The Celtics set the tone for the NBA Finals by landing a haymaker in Game 1. Here's an inside look at what proved the most crucial moment of Thursday's win.
There were no signs of rust from Kristaps Porzingis, who came off the bench in his return from a 38-day absence caused by a soleus strain in his right calf.
Targeting the six-foot-eight star forward in pick-and-rolls was an unappealing option. Shying from that challenge neutralized the lobs that those two feast on, neutralizing one of Dallas' most reliable methods of manufacturing points. That strategy and the job the Celtics did of executing it also took away another of the Mavericks' most trusted sources of offense: corner threes. They attempted only three and didn't make one until the final minute of the matchup.
As the Mavericks slowed the pace, they found the success necessary to stage a 10-2 run, with Doncic burying a three from the left wing that narrowed the gap to eight with 4:28 left in the third quarter. What transpired next was a 14-0 run as the hosts raised their energy and physicality; they went from pacing themselves while working with a sizable lead to playing inspired defense, and Jaylen Brown hosted a block party at the rim.Those stops led to a three-point barrage at the other end, as Brown, Al Horford, and Tatum knocked down three consecutive shots from behind the arc, pushing Boston's advantage to 20 entering the last 12 minutes.victory.
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