Celtics Dominate Mavericks in Game 1 Win as Kristaps Porziņģis Shines in Return
Boston Takes Control Early, Holds Off Dallas Rally in Fourth Quarter
The Boston Celtics took a commanding lead in their NBA playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks with a 112-94 victory in Game 1 on Saturday night. The Celtics raced out to a 12-point lead in the first quarter and extended it to 17 by halftime as Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown led the way offensively.
Porziņģis Impresses in Return
Kristaps Porziņģis, who missed the last two games due to an ankle injury, made his return to the lineup and had a major impact for the Mavericks. The Latvian forward scored 19 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 27 minutes off the bench, providing a much-needed spark for Dallas.
The Mavericks made a run in the fourth quarter, trimming Boston's lead to six points, but the Celtics weathered the storm and held on for the win. Tatum finished with a game-high 39 points, while Brown added 34. Luka Dončić paced Dallas with 23 points and 9 rebounds.
Conclusion
The Celtics now hold a 1-0 lead in the series and will look to take a commanding 2-0 advantage when they host Game 2 on Tuesday night. The Mavericks, meanwhile, will need to regroup and find a way to slow down Tatum and Brown if they want to avoid falling into a deeper hole.
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