The Boston Celtics came out hot in Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals, beating down the Dallas Mavericks, 107-89, to take an early lead in the championship series. The most impressive aspect of the win was the Celtics putting together a dominant team effort that stifled everything the Mavs tried to do— especially in the case of Luka Doncic.
The Dallas superstar scored 30 points and recorded 10 rebounds, but shot 46% from the floor and managed only one assist on the night, a career low in postseason play. He scored a lot of points and dragged the Mavericks back within eight on the scoreboard after falling down by as many as 29, but was unable to dictate the flow of the game as we've seen him so often do.
It was basically as good a job you'll see defending Doncic this postseason. Jrue Holiday was asked how the Celtics pulled it off after the win and gave a great quote about the effort everybody in the rotation gives on that side of the ball.
