Balanced scoring attack: all six Celtics starters scored in double digits, Jaylen Brown led with 22 points
Boston Celtics dominated NBA Finals opener against Dallas Mavericks
Impressive defense held Mavericks to season-low 42 points in first half
Kristaps Porzingis returned from injury and scored 20 points for Celtics
Luka Doncic had solid outing with 30 points, but Mavericks struggled offensively
In the opening game of the 2024 NBA Finals, two powerhouse teams, the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks, faced off at TD Garden. The highly anticipated matchup between these Eastern and Western Conference champions did not disappoint as both teams showcased their strengths and weaknesses.
The first half of the game was dominated by the Celtics' impressive defense. They held the Mavericks to a season-low 42 points, with Kristaps Porzingis making an impactful return from injury contributing significantly to their lead. Porzingis, who had been sidelined since the opening round due to a calf injury, scored 20 points in just over 20 minutes of action. His size and shooting ability tilted the game in Boston's favor as soon as he checked in.
The Celtics' balanced scoring attack also played a crucial role in their commanding lead. All six Celtics who topped 20 minutes scored in double digits, with Jaylen Brown leading the way with 22 points. The team's strong defense and efficient offense left the Mavericks struggling to keep up.
The second half of the game saw a more competitive performance from Dallas, but they were unable to overcome Boston's early lead. Luka Doncic had a solid outing with 30 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists. However, his teammates struggled to contribute offensively as the Celtics maintained their defensive intensity.
The Celtics' victory in Game 1 sets the stage for an exciting NBA Finals series. Both teams will look to make adjustments and capitalize on each other's weaknesses as they fight for basketball supremacy.
Boston's defense limited Dallas to 42 points in the first half, their second-lowest first-half point total of the playoffs.
Jaylen Brown led Boston with 22 points and Kristaps Porzingis made an impressive return from a calf injury that had sidelined him since the opening round.
Porzingis size and shooting ability tilted the game in Boston's direction as soon as he checked in.
Dallas went 1-of-3 from the corners, with the lone make coming from Josh Green in garbage time. Per Second Spectrum tracking, that tied the fewest corner 3-point attempts for the Mavericks all season.
Porzingis presence on the court opened up the floor for his teammates, resulting in all six Celtics who topped 20 minutes scoring in double digits.
Accuracy
Boston's defense limited Dallas to 42 points in the first half
Porzingis made an impressive return from a calf injury with 20 points and 8 rebounds
Dallas had fewer assists (9) than Luka Doncic averaged by himself in the regular season (9.8)
The Celtics doubled up Dallas beyond the arc in the first half
Deception
(80%)
The article contains editorializing and pontification from the authors Tim Bontemps, Marc Spears, Kevin Pelton and Luke Myers. They express their opinions on the game and make assumptions about future performances of players. For example, Bontemps states 'Boston will be a massive favorite to win the title if this is a repeat of the Oklahoma City series.' This is an opinion and not a fact.
Marc Spears: Tatum doesn’t have to play well for the Celtics to beat the Mavericks.
Tim Bontemps: Boston will be a massive favorite to win the title if this is a repeat of the Oklahoma City series.
Fallacies
(85%)
There are several instances of formal fallacies such as hasty generalizations and overgeneralizations throughout the article. Additionally, there are some inflammatory rhetorical devices used by the author. However, no egregious logical errors or dichotomous depictions were found.
Despite Dallas's recent playoff history of coming back after losing Game 1 -- something it did twice in 2022 and in this year's first two rounds -- Boston is now a heavy favorite.
The Mavericks need the rest of the Finals to resemble the Minnesota series, where Irving and Doncic gashed the defense and gave Dallas big-time production nightly.
Boston's ability to guard Dallas. Kyrie Irving went 6-for-19 and 0-for-5 from 3. Doncic finished with 30 points and 10 rebounds but had just one assist -- the fewest he's had in a game this season and ever in a postseason -- and Dallas had nine as a team.
Kristaps Porzingis returned to the NBA Finals after a calf strain, playing for the Boston Celtics against the Dallas Mavericks.
Porzingis scored 20 points in just over 20 minutes of action, leading the Celtics to a 107-89 Game 1 win.
Despite being out for six weeks, Porzingis’ transition back to game play was seamless and he finished the game with an impressive stat line: 8-of-13 from the field, 2-of-4 from 3-point range, and 2-of-2 from the free throw line.
Porzingis’ presence on the court opened up the floor for his teammates, resulting in all six Celtics who topped 20 minutes scoring in double digits.
Coach Joe Mazzulla praised Porzingis’ performance, stating that he played great on both ends of the floor and was a key factor in their victory.
Kristaps Porzingis returned to play after missing 10 playoff games due to a right calf injury.
Porzingis scored 20 points on 8-for-13 shooting in his return game.
The Celtics' balanced scoring attack and strong defense helped them take a commanding lead over the Mavericks in the first half of the game.
Accuracy
Porzingis scored 20 points on 8-for-13 shooting, grabbed six rebounds, and made three blocks during his time on the court.
Dallas struggled with ball movement and shot only 7-27 (25.9 percent) from deep, registering just nine assists against 11 turnovers.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
The article contains some inflammatory rhetoric and an appeal to authority, but no formal or blatant logical fallacies were found. The author uses phrases like 'dream opener', 'validated their trust', 'eased concerns' to describe the Celtics' performance, which can be seen as inflammatory. The author also quotes Irving saying that the Celtics rely on their great defensive ball pressure and one-on-one defenders, implying an appeal to authority as it is a statement from an expert in the field (Irving). However, these do not significantly impact the overall quality of the article.
The wait for Kristaps Porzingis dragged on nearly as long as possible.
Porzingis was everywhere as the Celtics took a 37-20 lead into the second quarter and extended their margin to 29 points before entering the break with a 63-42 advantage.
