Final: Celtics 107, Mavs 89 - Brown, Porzingis lead blowout Game 1 win

BOSTON CELTICS vs. DALLAS MAVERICKS

NBA Finals, Game 1

TD Garden, 8:30 p.m. - ESPN

Line: Boston -6.5

INJURIES

Boston: None

Dallas: Luka Doncic (PROBABLE, Knee/ankle), Olivier-Maxence Prosper (QUESTIONABLE, ankle)

SEASON SERIES

Celtics 119 - Mavericks 110, January 22

The Celtics couldn't hit anything early on and the Mavs made a run, but Jayson Tatum’s 13 first-quarter points kept Boston within two. The 3-pointers started falling to start the second and the Celtics built a 14-point lead before Tim Hardaway went supernova and cut the lead to six at the half. Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 17 and got the lead as high as 16 in the third, but again, Boston slipped late and took an 11-point lead into the fourth. Luka Doncic went full Luka in the fourth but Brown and Boston responded by taking and making good shots to close the door.

Celtics 138 - Mavericks 110, March 1

Boston’s 3-pointers were falling early, and they put up 38 first-quarter points, but they allowed 32, half of them scored by Luka Doncic. Jayson Tatum woke up from a slow start to pace the Celtics in a second quarter that saw the teams trade runs, but end up with Boston up seven. He dropped 16 in the third as the C’s added five to the lead, and Jaylen Brown fueled an early fourth-quarter run to go up 18. The Celtics poured it on from there and ran away for their 10th straight win.

THINGS I’M LOOKING FOR

1. Focus: Joe Mazzulla has been hammering home how winning in the NBA Finals will be no different than winning in the regular season or earlier in the playoffs, it’s just harder to do it. So let’s see the Celtics focus in on the task at hand and do the things they need to do to win: Start their offense early, attack multiple times, protect the ball, rebound, and be together on defense. Don’t get caught up in the moment. 

2. Rebound: An under-discussed element to this series. The Mavs will miss shots, but second chances will be killers for Boston. The Mavs have bouncy bigs who might not get the lobs thanks to Boston’s defensive plan, but they will stick with the play and get putbacks. Don't blow a good defensive possession by getting lazy right at the end. 

3. Take the 3-pointers: Don’t worry if they're missing. Keep going with it. Everyone be prepared for this.  

Follow along with my thoughts as the game goes on. They’ll show up below and in the comments section, so hop in and share your opinion as well.