Celtics beat Mavericks 105-98, take 2-0 lead in NBA Finals as series heads to Dallas
BOSTON (AP) Jrue Holiday led the scoring. Derrick White added a chase-down block. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown pitched in, too - with their passing and defense.
The Mavericks can stop worrying about who Boston's best player is. Everyone is contributing to the Celtics' quest for an unprecedented 18th NBA championship.
Holiday had 26 points and 11 rebounds, and White sprinted down the court to swat away the Mavericks' last chance on Sunday night as Boston beat Dallas 105-98 to take a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals.
Tatum made up for a rough shooting night with 12 assists and nine rebounds to go with his 18 points. Brown scored 21 with three steals, White had 18 points and three steals, and Payton Pritchard’s only basket of the game was a banked half-courter to beat the third quarter buzzer and give Boston an 83-74 lead.
“That’s why they are the No. 1 team in the NBA with the No. 1 record,” said Mavericks star Luka Doncic, who scored 32 with 11 rebounds and 11 assists - the first NBA Finals triple-double in Dallas franchise history. “They have a lot of great players. Basically, anybody can get off.”
Doncic, who was listed as questionable to play less than two hours before the opening tipoff, had his 10th career playoff triple-double. But he scored only three points in the fourth, converting a three-point play with 1:15 left as Dallas scored nine in a row to cut a 14-point deficit to 103-98.
After Derrick Jones Jr. blocked Tatum's dunk attempt, White ran down the court, joining with Brown to block P.J. Washington's potential dunk. Brown made a layup at the other end, and then Doncic missed a one-footed, running floater from 3-point range with 28 seconds left, ending Dallas' last chance at a comeback.
“It’s not all on him. It’s a team,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said of Doncic, who had been battling chest, knee and ankle injuries. “He put us in a position. He was really good tonight. Unfortunately, we just couldn’t get over the hump. We’ve got to find someone to join Luka and (Kyrie Irving) in that scoring category.”
Games 3 and 4 are Wednesday and Friday in Dallas; Boston has not lost on the road this postseason. It was the ninth time the Celtics have won the opening pair in the NBA Finals: They have won the previous eight, and have never been forced to a Game 7 in any of them.
A day after Kidd attempted to sow dissension in the Celtics locker room by calling Brown - not Tatum, an All-NBA first-teamer - the team's best player, Boston showed why it doesn't matter. The two All-Stars combined to make 2 of 12 3-point attempts, but filled up the box score in other ways.
“How they play together is sacred, and something that can’t be broken,” Holiday said. "I don’t prefer one or the other, I prefer both. Because they’re both superstars, and they're showing it on the biggest stage in the world.”
Kristaps Porzingis limped his way to 12 points for top-seeded Boston. Tatum was 6 for 22 shooting and 1 of 7 from 3-point range; the Celtics were 10 for 39 from long distance overall.
“I’m really tired of hearing about one guy or this guy or that guy and everybody trying to make it out to be anything other than Celtic basketball,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. “Everybody that stepped on that court today made winning plays on both ends of the floor.”
Unlike their 107-89 victory in Game 1, when Boston went 7 for 15 from 3-point range in the first quarter to sprint to a 17-point lead, the Celtics missed their first eight attempts from long range on Sunday. Dallas led the entire first quarter.
Tatum was scoreless in the first and had only five at halftime, when he was still 0 for 3 from 3-point range. Boston was still just 5 for 30 from long distance when Pritchard banked in a half-courter at the third-quarter buzzer to give Boston an 83-74 lead.
That excited the crowd, which previously had spent most of its time serenading Irving with boos - and semi-vulgar chants. Before the game, the scoreboard showed Irving's postgame quote from Game 1, where he said he thought the crowd would be louder.
The fans roared.
Irving, who scored 16 points, has lost 12 games in a row against the Celtics.
“A little disappointed in myself not being able to convert a lot more of my opportunities in the lane,” he said. “My teammates look for me to convert a lot of shots and lessen the burden not only on Luka but the entire team.”
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Daniel Gafford vs. Al Horford (Derrick Jones Jr. gains possession) | |||
11:38 | +2 | Luka Doncic makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 2-0 | |
11:30 | +2 | Jrue Holiday makes two point cutting layup (Derrick White assists) | 2-2 | |
11:11 | +2 | Kyrie Irving makes two point driving layup | 4-2 | |
10:59 | Jaylen Brown turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
10:48 | +3 | P.J. Washington makes three point jump shot (Kyrie Irving assists) | 7-2 | |
10:28 | Jaylen Brown misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
10:27 | Mavericks defensive rebound | |||
10:12 | Luka Doncic misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
10:08 | Jaylen Brown defensive rebound | |||
10:05 | +2 | Al Horford makes two point running dunk (Jaylen Brown assists) | 7-4 | |
9:52 | P.J. Washington misses two point driving layup | |||
9:50 | Mavericks offensive rebound | |||
9:50 | Jrue Holiday personal foul (Loose ball) (Daniel Gafford draws the foul) | |||
9:40 | +2 | Luka Doncic makes two point pullup jump shot | 9-4 | |
9:20 | +2 | Jrue Holiday makes two point driving finger roll layup (Jayson Tatum assists) | 9-6 | |
9:05 | Daniel Gafford misses two point layup | |||
9:03 | Mavericks offensive rebound | |||
9:03 | Al Horford personal foul (Loose ball) (Daniel Gafford draws the foul) | |||
8:51 | +2 | Luka Doncic makes two point driving floating jump shot | 11-6 | |
8:33 | Jayson Tatum misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
8:32 | Daniel Gafford defensive rebound | |||
8:26 | Derrick White blocks Kyrie Irving's two point driving layup | |||
8:25 | Mavericks offensive rebound | |||
8:19 | +2 | Kyrie Irving makes two point pullup jump shot (Luka Doncic assists) | 13-6 | |
8:18 | Celtics 60 second timeout | |||
8:04 | Jrue Holiday misses three point jump shot | |||
8:02 | Jaylen Brown offensive rebound | |||
7:56 | Al Horford misses three point jump shot | |||
7:54 | Luka Doncic defensive rebound | |||
7:44 | Luka Doncic misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
7:43 | Al Horford defensive rebound | |||
7:27 | Jayson Tatum misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
7:26 | P.J. Washington defensive rebound | |||
7:15 | Luka Doncic turnover (lost ball) (Derrick White steals) | |||
7:11 | P.J. Washington shooting foul (Derrick White draws the foul) | |||
7:11 | Mavericks 60 second timeout | |||
7:11 | +1 | Derrick White makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 13-7 | |
7:11 | +1 | Derrick White makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 13-8 | |
6:54 | Maxi Kleber misses three point jump shot | |||
6:52 | Dereck Lively II offensive rebound | |||
6:47 | Jrue Holiday blocks Dereck Lively II's two point putback layup | |||
6:46 | Dereck Lively II offensive rebound | |||
6:45 | Dereck Lively II turnover (bad pass) (Jaylen Brown steals) | |||
6:43 | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point running dunk | 13-10 | |
6:24 | Maxi Kleber misses two point jump shot | |||
6:23 | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | |||
6:16 | Maxi Kleber personal foul (Jayson Tatum draws the foul) | |||
6:06 | Kyrie Irving personal foul (Jayson Tatum draws the foul) | |||
5:58 | Derrick Jones Jr. shooting foul (Kristaps Porzingis draws the foul) | |||
5:58 | +1 | Kristaps Porzingis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 13-11 | |
5:58 | +1 | Kristaps Porzingis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 13-12 | |
5:50 | Kristaps Porzingis blocks Maxi Kleber's two point driving layup | |||
5:49 | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | |||
5:37 | Jayson Tatum misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
5:35 | Dereck Lively II defensive rebound | |||
5:22 | Jayson Tatum shooting foul (Luka Doncic draws the foul) | |||
5:22 | Luka Doncic misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
5:22 | Mavericks offensive rebound | |||
5:22 | Luka Doncic misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
5:20 | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | |||
5:05 | Sam Hauser misses three point jump shot | |||
5:03 | Luka Doncic defensive rebound | |||
4:57 | Luka Doncic turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
4:53 | Jaylen Brown turnover (traveling) | |||
4:37 | +2 | Luka Doncic makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 15-12 | |
4:18 | +2 | Kristaps Porzingis makes two point turnaround jump shot | 15-14 | |
4:01 | Luka Doncic turnover (traveling) | |||
3:49 | Kristaps Porzingis misses three point jump shot | |||
3:48 | Dereck Lively II defensive rebound | |||
3:40 | +3 | Luka Doncic makes three point pullup jump shot | 18-14 | |
3:20 | Sam Hauser misses three point jump shot | |||
3:19 | Jayson Tatum offensive rebound | |||
3:19 | Jayson Tatum misses two point tip layup | |||
3:17 | Maxi Kleber defensive rebound | |||
3:09 | +2 | P.J. Washington makes two point driving floating jump shot | 20-14 | |
2:52 | Jaylen Brown misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
2:51 | Celtics offensive rebound | |||
2:51 | Josh Green personal foul (Loose ball) (Jrue Holiday draws the foul) | |||
2:51 | +1 | Jrue Holiday makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 20-15 | |
2:51 | +1 | Jrue Holiday makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 20-16 | |
2:38 | Jrue Holiday shooting foul (Luka Doncic draws the foul) | |||
2:38 | +1 | Luka Doncic makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-16 | |
2:38 | +1 | Luka Doncic makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-16 | |
2:20 | Kyrie Irving personal foul (Sam Hauser draws the foul) | |||
2:20 | +1 | Sam Hauser makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-17 | |
2:20 | +1 | Sam Hauser makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-18 | |
2:02 | Kyrie Irving turnover (traveling) | |||
1:55 | Maxi Kleber personal foul (Kristaps Porzingis draws the foul) | |||
1:55 | +1 | Kristaps Porzingis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-19 | |
1:55 | +1 | Kristaps Porzingis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-20 | |
1:31 | Maxi Kleber misses three point jump shot | |||
1:30 | Mavericks offensive rebound | |||
1:30 | Jaylen Brown personal foul (Loose ball) (Daniel Gafford draws the foul) | |||
1:30 | Daniel Gafford misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
1:30 | Mavericks offensive rebound | |||
1:28 | P.J. Washington turnover (lost ball) (Derrick White steals) | |||
1:30 | Daniel Gafford misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
1:30 | P.J. Washington offensive rebound | |||
1:28 | P.J. Washington turnover (lost ball) (Derrick White steals) | |||
1:09 | +2 | Kristaps Porzingis makes two point stepback jump shot (Jaylen Brown assists) | 22-22 | |
0:45 | +2 | Kyrie Irving makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 24-22 | |
0:31 | Derrick White misses three point jump shot | |||
0:29 | Daniel Gafford defensive rebound | |||
0:08 | +2 | Kyrie Irving makes two point driving finger roll layup | 26-22 | |
0:05 | +3 | Al Horford makes three point jump shot (Jaylen Brown assists) | 26-25 | |
0:00 | Kristaps Porzingis shooting foul (Josh Green draws the foul) | |||
0:00 | Josh Green misses regular free throw 1 of 3 | |||
0:00 | Mavericks offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | +1 | Josh Green makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 27-25 | |
0:00 | +1 | Josh Green makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 28-25 | |
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:41 | +2 | Derrick White makes two point jump shot (Jaylen Brown assists) | 28-27 | |
11:24 | +2 | Luka Doncic makes two point stepback jump shot | 30-27 | |
11:08 | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point cutting dunk (Jayson Tatum assists) | 30-29 | |
10:55 | +3 | Luka Doncic makes three point jump shot (Kyrie Irving assists) | 33-29 | |
10:37 | Payton Pritchard misses three point jump shot | |||
10:36 | Dante Exum defensive rebound | |||
10:30 | Dante Exum turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
10:24 | Jaylen Brown turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
10:08 | +2 | Luka Doncic makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 35-29 | |
9:48 | Derrick White turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
9:38 | Luka Doncic misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
9:37 | Jrue Holiday defensive rebound | |||
9:29 | +2 | Jayson Tatum makes two point driving finger roll layup (Jrue Holiday assists) | 35-31 | |
9:13 | Kyrie Irving misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
9:12 | Jrue Holiday defensive rebound | |||
8:59 | +2 | Kristaps Porzingis makes two point pullup jump shot (Jayson Tatum assists) | 35-33 | |
8:46 | Luka Doncic misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
8:45 | Derrick White defensive rebound | |||
8:38 | Jayson Tatum misses three point running jump shot | |||
8:36 | Payton Pritchard offensive rebound | |||
8:26 | Jayson Tatum misses two point driving layup | |||
8:25 | Luka Doncic defensive rebound | |||
8:21 | Dereck Lively II offensive foul (Kristaps Porzingis draws the foul) | |||
8:21 | Dereck Lively II turnover (offensive foul) | |||
8:01 | +3 | Derrick White makes three point jump shot (Jayson Tatum assists) | 35-36 | |
7:39 | P.J. Washington misses three point jump shot | |||
7:37 | Al Horford defensive rebound | |||
7:31 | P.J. Washington blocks Derrick White's two point running layup | |||
7:29 | Derrick White offensive rebound | |||
7:15 | Jayson Tatum turnover (lost ball) (Luka Doncic steals) | |||
7:07 | Dereck Lively II misses two point turnaround hook shot | |||
7:05 | Al Horford defensive rebound | |||
7:00 | Celtics 60 second timeout | |||
6:45 | Derrick White misses three point fadeaway jump shot | |||
6:42 | Maxi Kleber defensive rebound | |||
6:24 | Payton Pritchard technical foul (Defensive three second) | |||
6:24 | Luka Doncic misses technical free throw 1 of 1 | |||
6:24 | Mavericks offensive rebound | |||
6:14 | Josh Green misses three point jump shot | |||
6:13 | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | |||
6:05 | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point driving layup | 35-38 | |
5:42 | Josh Green misses three point jump shot | |||
5:40 | Derrick Jones Jr. offensive rebound | |||
5:37 | +2 | Josh Green makes two point cutting layup (Derrick Jones Jr. assists) | 37-38 | |
5:22 | +2 | Jrue Holiday makes two point driving layup (Payton Pritchard assists) | 37-40 | |
5:09 | +2 | Derrick Jones Jr. makes two point cutting layup (Luka Doncic assists) | 39-40 | |
4:56 | Jaylen Brown turnover (bad pass) (Derrick Jones Jr. steals) | |||
4:56 | +2 | Derrick Jones Jr. makes two point running layup | 41-40 | |
4:56 |