Kristaps Porzingis returned from injury and became a key piece for the Boston Celtics in the first game of the 2024 NBA Finals. They defeated the Dallas Mavericks with a score of 107-89 at TD Garden (Massachusetts).
The Latvian had been without playing for 38 days due to a muscle injury, but in this first match of the Finals scored 20 points, captured 6 rebounds and made 3 blocks. His performance was fundamental for his team, which did not need him in the previous series against the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference. Those led by Joe Mazzulla counted on the versatility of Porzingis to open spaces and change the dynamics of the game quickly.
A sample of his great moment was the huge block he gave to Josh Greenwhich caused a cheer inside the stadium.
The first half was dominated by the Celtics thanks to the European, who was dominant in both defense and attack. At the end of the first quarter, Boston had established a significant lead, fueled by the Latvian player’s 11 points and 2 blocks. In the first half, the locals had a lead of 29 points, a maximum that the Mavericks could not equal although they tried to reduce the difference.
The Mavericks, who reached the Finals for the first time since 2011, had eliminated teams with more than 50 wins in the West, but found it difficult to maintain their style of play against the Celtics defense. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving failed to match their usual levels of performance, which contributed to Boston’s superiority. The Spaniard contributed 30 points, 10 rebounds and one assist, while the American contributed 12 points, three rebounds and two assists.
In addition to Porzingis’ stellar performance, Jaylen Brown also stood out with 22 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals. Jayson Tatum contributed 16 points, although his 6 turnovers did not have a major impact due to the general solidity of the team. The combination of a powerful offense and a robust defense placed the Celtics as the clear favorites in this series.
The Boston Celtics reached this stage after taking first place in the Eastern Conference (64 wins and 18 losses). On their way they beat the Miami Heat (4-1), Cleveland Cavaliers (4-1) and Indiana Pacers (4-0). The Dallas Mavericks, for their part, were fifth in the West (50-32). They previously eliminated the Los Angeles Clippers (4-2), Oklahoma City Thunder (4-2) and Minnesota Timberwolves (4-1).
The TD Garden not only witnessed Boston’s dominance on the field, but also the presence of Manchester City’s coach, Pep Guardiola, who enjoyed the game in the front row. Citizens strategist and Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla had already exchanged visits and jerseys in the past.
The second game of these finals will take place on Sunday, where the Mavericks will have to find answers if they want to stay in the competition against a Boston team that has proven to be a well-oiled machine in both attack and defense. Then the series will move on Wednesday the 12th to the Américan Airlines Center, where the Texans will try to assert their home spot.
