Celtics Outplay Mavericks in Game 1
Depth and Defense Key to Boston's Victory
Luka and Kyrie Struggle as Celtics Ground Mavs Bigs
The Boston Celtics took Game 1 of their NBA playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night, proving that their depth and defensive prowess were too much for the Luka Doncic-Kyrie Irving duo. Doncic and Irving combined for 45 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Celtics' balanced scoring and stifling defense.
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 29 points, while Jaylen Brown added 22 and Marcus Smart contributed 18. The Celtics also got valuable contributions from their bench, with Derrick White scoring 15 points and Grant Williams chipping in with 12. Meanwhile, the Mavericks' big men, Christian Wood and Dwight Powell, were held to a combined 11 points on 4-of-17 shooting.
The Celtics' defense was particularly impressive in the fourth quarter, holding the Mavericks to just 16 points. Boston forced Dallas into 15 turnovers, including seven in the final frame, and also blocked four shots.
The Celtics now have a 1-0 lead in the series, while the Mavericks will need to regroup before Game 2 on Thursday night. The Celtics' depth and defense will continue to be key factors in this series, and the Mavericks will need to find a way to counter them if they want to advance.
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