Celtics-Mavs Takeaways: Porzingis Doesn’t Get Rusty as C’s Cruise Wins Game 1

Celtics-Mavs Takeaways: Porzingis Doesn’t Get Rusty as C’s Cruise Wins Game 1 originally appeared in NBC Sports Boston

BOSTON – The Boston Celtics’ 2024 NBA Finals campaign could not have started better.

The C’s treated the raucous TD Garden crowd to a dominant performance against the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 on Thursday night. They stormed out of the gate with a 17-point lead at the end of the first quarter and a 21-point lead at halftime. Dallas came out on a run early in the third to cut the deficit to eight, but Boston responded to finish the game with 20 points.

That would be the only run the Mavs would have as the Celtics cruised to a 107-89 victory. They led by as many as 29 points in the triumph.

Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis starred for the C’s with 22 and 20 points, respectively. All five of Boston’s starters scored in double figures.

Luka Doncic dropped a game-high 30 points for the Mavs on a missed drive. PJ Washington added 14 and former Celtic Kyrie Irving was limited to 12 while being showered with boos of the Garden crowd.

Kickoff for Game 2 is scheduled for 8pm ET on Sunday at TD Garden. Before we turn the page to this matchup, here are three takeaways from the Celtics’ Game 1 win.

No rust for Kristaps Porzingis

Porzingis didn’t miss a beat in his first appearance since Game 4 of the Celtics’ first-round series against Miami.

Returning from a right calf strain, the great Celtics star entered Thursday’s game coming off the bench and being applauded five minutes into the first quarter. To say he looked agile would be an understatement.

Porzingis was a force on both ends, making his presence known immediately with 11 points, three rebounds and two blocks in the first half. Boston went up a point when Porzingis entered the game and increased its lead to 17 at the end of the quarter.

He finished the first half with a game-high 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting in 12 minutes.

Porzingis finished with 20 points (8-13 FG), six rebounds and three blocks. He needed just 20 minutes to set that stat line, keeping him fresh for Game 2 on Sunday.

Jaylen Brown picks up where he left off

The Eastern Conference Finals MVP wants to add a Finals MVP to his resume.

Brown provided an offensive spark while also reminding the NBA world why he deserved more All-Defensive consideration. He shined with 13 points and three steals in the first half and continued to dominate on both ends in the final two frames.

Brown’s defensive hustle picked up another gear in the second half. He had a couple of monstrous blocks, including this one on his former teammate Irving:

Brown finished with a team-high 22 points on efficient 7-of-12 shooting. He added six rebounds, three blocks and three steals in what was a stellar night.

At the start of the postseason, Brown said he considered himself one of the best two-way guards in the NBA. He’s backed his talk ever since, and it could result in the Bill Russell Finals MVP Trophy joining the Larry Bird Trophy on his mantle.

Elite Celtics Defense

The Mavericks will need a lot more from their supporting cast to have any chance of making this series close.

Luka Doncic’s 30 points weren’t enough to carry the Mavs in Game 1. PJ Washington was Dallas’ next leading scorer with 14, and Kyrie Irving wasn’t a big factor with 12 points on just 6-of-18 shooting (0-5 3-PT). These were the only three Dallas players to reach double figures

The Mavs’ 42 first-half points marked the second-fewest in any half all season. His total of 89 points tied for the fourth lowest of the season. The season low is 86.

Boston had as many blocks (nine) as Dallas had assists. Irving led the Mavs in the assists column with just two.

The Mavericks shot just 7-of-27 (25.9 percent) from deep. Doncic was responsible for four of those 3s.