WEB Celtics Ground Mavs Despite Luka-Kyrie Duo
Depth Proves Key in Celtics Victory
The Boston Celtics' depth proved to be too much for the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night, as the Celtics ground out a 110-107 victory in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.Celtics' Bench Outshines Mavs' Starters
Despite a 32-point performance from Luka Doncic and a 20-point effort from Kyrie Irving, the Celtics' bench outshone the Mavericks' starters. Malcolm Brogdon led the way with 21 points off the bench, while Derrick White and Grant Williams added 17 and 16 points, respectively.
The Celtics' bench provided a much-needed spark, especially in the fourth quarter. With the game tied at 98, Brogdon hit a jumper to give the Celtics the lead, and they never trailed again.
Celtics Defense Stifles Mavs' Bigs
In addition to their bench play, the Celtics' defense also played a key role in the victory. They held the Mavericks' big men, Christian Wood and Dwight Powell, to a combined 10 points on 4-of-13 shooting.
The Celtics' defense forced the Mavericks to rely heavily on their outside shooting, and Dallas was just 9-of-31 (29%) from three-point range.
Conclusion
The Celtics' victory in Game 1 was a testament to their depth and defense. Despite the star power of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, the Celtics were able to grind out a hard-fought victory. The Mavericks will need to make some adjustments if they want to even the series in Game 2.
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