The Dallas Mavericks bounced back from a Game 1 blowout Sunday night with a big game from Luka Dončić and an improved effort from the field.
It didn’t matter.
The Boston Celtics overcame poor shooting from 3 and from Jayson Tatum to secure a 105-98 win in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Jrue Holiday paced the Boston offense with one of his best outings of the season. The Celtics now hold a 2-0 series lead as the series sets to shift to Dallas for Game 3. Per ESPN, teams that take a 2-0 lead in the Finals have a 31-5 (86.1%) record.
Boston won Game 1 after blowing the game open with a 58-29 second-quarter advantage and never letting Dallas sniff the lead from there. Dallas looked like the stronger team early Sunday as Dončić took over with a 23-point first-half effort. After scoring 12 points in Game 1, Kyrie Irving had 10 at halftime as Boston had few answers for Dallas’ elite backcourt duo.
But the Celtics still managed to open up a 54-51 halftime lead while shooting 3-of-15 from long distance. Then they turned the screws on defense to open the third quarter and take control of the game. Dallas turnovers — many of them by Dončić — were repeatedly converted to points on the other end.
The Celtics extended their lead to 83-74 in a third quarter that was capped by a miracle 3-pointer from backup point guard Payton Pritchard.
By the fourth quarter, Boston’s defense was in control, and its 3-point shooting was back to form. A Derrick White 3-pointer extended the Celtics lead to 103-89 in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter.
Derrick White’s late block seals Celtics victory
Dallas wasn’t done, though. The Mavericks went on a late 9-0 run to trim the Celtics lead to 103-98 with 1:15 remaining. Then, as the clock ticked into the final minute, Dallas threatened to cut the game to a single possession. Derrick White had other ideas.
Derrick Jones Jr. blocked a Tatum layup at the rim to ignite a Dallas fast break. Irving then found P.J. Washington with a bounce pass for what looked like a layup to cut the Boston lead to 3. But White — an All-Defensive Team selection alongside Holiday — chased the play down and blocked Washington from behind.
The block stunted the Mavericks rally and all but ended the game. Boston scored on the other end, and the Mavericks didn’t score again.
While Tatum struggled from the field, Holiday took the reins on offense. The former All-Star and champion with the Milwaukee Bucks is a featured player in a Celtics offense that can count on any of its starters and now-sixth man Kristaps Porzingis to take over on any given night. It was Holiday’s turn Sunday in arguably his best offensive outing of the season.
Holiday floated the Celtics offense at halftime with 17 points. He finished the game with a team-high 26 points and 11 rebounds alongside three assists, one steal and one blocks. He shot 11 of 14 from the field and 2 of 4 from 3.
Jaylen Brown posted another strong effort after helping lead the Celtics to victory in Game 1. He tallied 21 points, seven assists and three steals while shooting 8 of 15 from the field. Tatum overcame his poor shooting night (6 of 22, 1 of 7 from 3) with a well-rounded effort that featured his skills as a playmaker. He finished with 18 points, a game-high 12 assists and nine rebounds.
Dončić cooled down after his 23-point first half as Boston’s defense took control. He finished with a 32-point, 11-assist, 11-rebound triple-double. He tallied four steals and shot 12 of 21 from the field and 4 of 9 from 3. But his eight turnovers helped Boston take control of the game.
Irving struggled in the second half after shooting 5 of 10 before halftime. He finished with 16 points and six assists while shooting 7 of 18 form the field. He missed all three of his 3-point attempts and has yet to hit a 3-pointer in the series after shooting 0 for 5 in Game 1.
And free throws were costly for Dallas once again. The Mavericks left points at the line on a 16-of-24 effort as the Celtics hit 19 of 20 attempts.
Game 3 on Wednesday will provide Dallas the comforts of home that could help Irving’s shooting woes. But the Mavericks face an uphill climb with NBA history working against them as they look to make this a series.
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Final score is Boston 105, Dallas 98 as the Celtics take the 2-0 series lead.
Huge block from Derrick White to keep Boston’s lead.
Derrick White finally connecting
Derrick White has struggled with his shot throughout these playoffs, but he’s hit four huge 3s on a night when no other Boston player has connected on more than two from distance. After a sloppy turnover from Dallas, the Celtics are in clear position up 103-89 with 3:32 to play.
Kristaps Porzingis could be a storyline moving forward
Kristaps Porzingis, playing his second game since missing more than a month with a right soleus strain, does not look like himself in the second half. He briefly retreated to the locker room before returning to the bench. Upon reentering the game, he was moving gingerly on the court. The Celtics subbed him out in favor of Al Horford in the final minutes of the game. Something to monitor as the series continues.
Porzingis sluggish
Kristaps Porzingis is either hurt or tired. Not moving with nearly the same fluidity as he was in the first half.
Kyrie now taking control
Kyrie has really taken the keys to Dallas’ creation here in the fourth. He’s got six points, he’s creating for others. Just found Daniel Gafford in transition for what marks the Mavs’ first lob to a big man all series with 4:40 left in the fourth quarter of Game 2.
P.J. Washington not dialed in
Credit to P.J. Washington for following his latest miss, but he’s now 0-of-4 from deep after hitting his first triple. His lack of shooting prowess has sapped an entire dimension from Dallas’ offense.
The Celtics play Paul Pierce’s old hype video on the Jumbotron, then flash to Pierce in the front row, where he is miming raising a championship banner. Should be a fun end to Game 2.
A quick breather for Luka Doncic. Dallas got four points from Kyrie before the Celtics called timeout, and Doncic is back after resting for roughly a minute.
Mavs coming up short
The Mavs’ struggles from the foul line are still creating a huge differential in Boston’s favor. The Celtics are 17-of-18 from the line, and after Daniel Gafford goes 1-of-2, Dallas is just 11-of-19 and facing a nine-point deficit.
Fourth-quarter groove?
These first few minutes of the fourth quarter are the first that have felt like they’ve had any rhyhthm or flow for the whole game.
Oh my, Payton Pritchard!
After the Celtics build an 80-67 lead, the Mavericks responded on a 7-0 run to close the third quarter … until Payton Pritchard drills a 34-footer at the buzzer. Pritchard has had a knack for those shots in the playoffs. Celtics lead, 83-74, entering the fourth quarter.
Mavs flash their pick-and-roll
Dereck Lively with a huge two-handed dunk out of a pick-and-roll from Luka. That was their most effective P-n-R of the series so far.
Celtics non-stars getting it done — unlike the Mavs’ role players
Dallas is getting nothing from its supporting cast. Mavericks not named Luka Doncic or Kyrie Irving started 2-for-13 from the field and finished the opening half with 18 points on 20 shots. Meanwhile, Boston’s “others” are carrying a slow start from Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who have combined for 13 points on 14 shots in the first half. Everyone else on the Celtics has scored 41 points on 25 shots. Boston leads at the break, 54-51.
Tatum the playmaker
Tatum has been exceptional as a willing passer. Up to 8 assists. He’s attacking closeouts with the goal of creating for others and he’s generated almost half of Boston’s points even with scoring just 5 of his own.
Tatum contributing in other ways
Tatum isn’t scoring, that and-1 was almost an exasperated one; but he does have seven assists in the first half. Maybe that’s a record for him.
Jrue Holiday is feeling it
Jrue Holiday has been massive to keep Boston on pace with Dallas’ offense. Back cuts, powerful drives, an array of floaters. He’s the Celtics’ leading scorer with 14 points.
Derrick Jones Jr. stepping up
Some huge contributions from Derrick Jones Jr. An offensive rebound and assist to cutting Josh Green, finishes a sweet no-look pass from Luka, then steals a Tatum pass and finishes an and-1 to draw Tatum’s second foul.
Doncic doing it all — except at the FT line
Luka has had every shot type in his bag fall tonight … except his free throws as he’s 2-of-5 from the line. We’re seeing him get plenty of work in postups that we haven’t really seen from him this postseason, but Doncic has absolutely relied on in past playoffs.
Jaylen Brown, who’s mic’d up for the night, has some encouragement for his team:
“Whatever you do, do it with confidence,” Brown said. “Embrace the moment. Breathe into it.”
