The Celtics exploded to a 29-point lead in the first half, cruising to a dominant 107-89 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night at TD Garden.
Luka Don i and the Mavericks, making their first NBA Finals appearance since winning the championship with Dirk Nowitzki in 2011, are now playing from behind.
PorziF#is, after missing Boston s last 10 games due to a calf injury, came off the bench and immediately made an impact.
The Celtics maintained their momentum in the second quarter, extending their lead to 29 points at one point.
A 20-6 run, highlighted by key plays from Kyrie Irving and a clutch 3-pointer from Don i , brought the Mavericks within eight points.
However, the Celtics responded swiftly, closing the third quarter with a 14-2 run to restore a 20-point lead.
Jaylen Brown led Boston with 22 points, shooting 7-of-12 from the field, while Jayson Tatum contributed 16 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists despite six turnovers.
Don i led the Mavericks with 30 points and 10 rebounds, though he shot just 4-of-12 from 3-point range. P.J. Washington added 14 points and eight rebounds, and Irving finished with 12 points.