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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Mike McDaniel

NBA Fans React to Celtics' Dominant First Half in Game 1 of NBA Finals

NBA Celtics NBA Finals Finals Game 1 Kristaps Porzingis Mike McDaniel Boston Luka Doncic Mavericks

The narratives entering Game 1 of the NBA Finals surrounded the Boston Celtics' lack of quality opponents faced in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Many of those statements were true. The Celtics ran through injury-plagued versions of the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers en route to their second NBA Finals appearance in three years.

But in the first half of Game 1 on Thursday night against the Dallas Mavericks, the Celtics reminded NBA fans that they were a league-best 64-18 in the regular season, and that they were rightfully the Finals favorites.

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