Celtics Take Game 1 of NBA Finals

Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum Lead Boston to Victory

Porzingis Absence Felt by Dallas

The Boston Celtics took game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals with a 105-85 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. In the absence of Kristaps Porzingis, who is out with a right MCL sprain, the Celtics' star duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum stepped up to lead the team to victory.

Brown finished the game with a team-high 31 points, while Tatum added 25 points and 10 rebounds. Luka Doncic led the Mavericks with 25 points, but he struggled to find his rhythm against the Celtics' tough defense.

The Celtics took control of the game early, jumping out to a 20-point lead in the first quarter. The Mavericks were able to cut the lead to 10 points at halftime, but the Celtics pulled away again in the second half.

The Celtics now have a 1-0 lead in the series and will host game 2 on Sunday night. The Mavericks will need to find a way to stop Brown and Tatum if they want to even the series.