Boston Celtics Edge Dallas Mavericks 105-98 to Take 2-0 Lead in NBA Finals

The Boston Celtics secured a hard-fought 105-98 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals. Jrue Holiday led the way with a standout performance, scoring 26 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Meanwhile, Jayson Tatum, despite struggling with his shooting, contributed significantly with 12 assists and nine rebounds.

“It’s slightly different, [Tatum and Jaylen Brown] are the superstars and I’m just here to support,” Holiday said post-game, modestly downplaying his pivotal role. Holiday, who averaged 12.5 points per game during the regular season, stepped up when it mattered most, providing a critical boost to the Celtics’ offense.

Dallas Mavericks’ star Luka Dončić, who was questionable to play due to an injury concern, delivered an exceptional performance with 32 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists, marking the first triple-double in Mavericks’ NBA Finals history. However, his missed one-footed, running floater from three-point range with 28 seconds left sealed Dallas’ fate in this contest.

Game 3 is set for Wednesday night in Dallas, where the Mavericks face a must-win situation to avoid a sweep and extend the series. The pressure is on the Mavericks to secure a victory either in Game 3 or Game 4 on Friday, aiming to return the series to Boston. The Celtics are on a nine-game winning streak, and teams that have taken a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals have historically held a dominant 31-5 series record.

Jaylen Brown contributed 21 points, while Tatum and Derrick White each added 18 points for the top-seeded Celtics. Kristaps Porzingis, despite battling a physical setback, chipped in 12 points. Tatum had an off-night shooting, going 6-for-22 from the field and 1-for-7 from three-point range, reflecting the Celtics’ overall struggles from long distance as they made only 10 of 39 attempts.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla commended the collective effort of his team after the game. “We’re tired of hearing about one guy or this guy or that guy and anyone trying to make it out as anything other than Celtics basketball. Everyone on that court tonight made plays at both ends of the floor,” Mazzulla emphasized.

Addressing concerns about Porzingis’ health, Mazzulla assured that the Latvian forward is fine. “He’s good,” Mazzulla said, downplaying any serious injury concerns.

Kyrie Irving, who has a contentious history with Boston fans following his departure in 2019, scored 16 points but extended his losing streak against the Celtics to 12 games. Derrick White acknowledged Irving’s talent but stressed the need for continued defensive pressure. “[Irving] is a hell of a player, we know he’s going to be even tougher back in Dallas. We just gotta continue to make it difficult for him,” White said. “Jrue and the whole team have been on him.”

Unlike their dominant 107-89 victory in Game 1, where they established a 29-point first-half lead with a strong start from three-point range, the Celtics struggled early in Game 2, missing their first eight long-distance attempts and maintaining around a 20% shooting rate from beyond the arc for much of the game. Despite these challenges, they managed to grind out the win, demonstrating resilience and depth.

As the series shifts to Dallas, the Mavericks will need to regroup and find a way to counter Boston’s depth and defensive prowess to keep their championship hopes alive. Meanwhile, the Celtics are one step closer to raising their unprecedented 18th NBA championship banner.