How the Boston Celtics dominated the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals in Kristaps Porzingis’ return from injury
Kristaps Porzingis was the difference in Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals.
The Boston Celtics soundly defeated the Dallas Mavericks, 107-89, in the series opener at TD Garden on Thursday night and it was led by the dominant first half effort of their returning 7-foot-2 big man.
Porzingis scored eight points within his first five minutes of game action — he came off of the bench for the first time this season and for just the second time in his career — and scored 18 points in the first half after missing over a month due to a calf strain injury.
“From day one I came here and I said like I’ll do whatever it takes to help this team win, right? I think it was — this situation, you know, it made sense,” Porzingis said of coming off of the bench after the game. “I didn’t care. I knew I could prepare to come off the bench, which is something different for me, and that’s what I did and stepped into that role and embraced it and had a good game.”
While the Celtics as a team certainly outplayed the Mavericks, it was Porzingis’ dominant offensive display along with his defensive performance that energized the home crowd and led to Boston pulling away by as many as 29 points in the first half. Porzingis not only finished the game with 20 points in just 21 minutes of action, he led all players with three blocks, including a highlight reel swat of the Mavericks’ Josh Green on a fastbreak dunk attempt.
“I think obviously what helped me is just even from the walk out before the game and then getting on the court, getting that kind of support was unreal,” says Porzingis. “The adrenaline was pumping through my veins and that definitely helped. Obviously it wasn’t ideal that I was out for such a long time, but I did everything I could to prepare mentally for this moment coming back and it paid off and we got the job done tonight and had a good game and happy about the result.”
Not bad for a guy who was playing in the first playoff series past the first round of his eight-year NBA career.
The Celtics had the definition of a near-perfect performance in Game 1. Outside of allowing a 28-point lead squander to just eight points during the second half, Boston did everything they were supposed to do as they look to exercise the demons from their playoff past.
