The Boston Celtics began the NBA finals in style as they routed the Dallas Mavericks 107-89 in the opening game at TD Garden on Thursday.
Jaylen Brown starred with 22 points while Kristaps Porzingis returned with 20 points off the bench after over a month on the sidelines, as the Celtics bid to win their first NBA crown since 2008.
In the first game of seven, six Celtics players sealed double-figure hauls as Jayson Tatum (16), Derrick White (15), Jrue Holiday (12) and Al Horford (10) joined Brown and Porzingis with significant contributions to the victory.
Boston took a 29-point lead in the first half as Joe Mazzulla’s side netted 16 three-pointers in a strong start to the tie, watched on by amongst others Pep Guardiola, the manager of current Premier League champions Manchester City.
Porzingis added more firepower off the bench when he returned from a 38-day absence after recovering from a calf injury, and the Latvian added six rebounds and three blocks in just over 20 minutes of action.
The Mavericks eventually got themselves ticking in the second half and managed to close the deficit to eight points at 72-64 after a flurry of 15 points by Luka Doncic.
But the Celtics were too strong and put their foot on the gas to extend their lead once more, increasing their lead to 20 points heading into the fourth quarter.
"I think, obviously, what helped me is just even from the walk out before the game and then getting on the court, getting that kind of support was unreal," Porzingis said about Celtics crowd. "The adrenaline was pumping through my veins, and that definitely helped.
"Obviously, it wasn't ideal that I was out for such a long time, but I did everything I could to prepare mentally for this moment coming back, and it paid off, and we got the job done tonight and had a good game, and happy about the result.
"Tonight was an affirmation to myself that I'm pretty good, you know? Maybe I'm not perfect, but I'm pretty good and I can play like this and I can definitely add to this team."
Celtics coach Mazzulla added: "Everybody has to take on the challenge of guarding those guys. They're an amazing team and they put a ton of pressure on you with their ability to score.
"Everyone is going to take their match-up personal, have personal pride in individual defense."
Doncic top-scored for the Mavericks - and of any player on the court - with 30 points, and while PJ Washington added 14 points and eight rebounds, Dallas could not find their way back into the game.
Former Celtics player Kyrie Irving endured a tough night and ended the game with 12 points against his old club, where he received a chorus of boos from home fans throughout the contest.
"The ball has got to move a little bit more," Irving said in his post-match interview. "And again, that starts with me just being able to push the pace, get us some easy opportunities, and just adjust to what they are throwing at us.
"It's a fun series. It was fun going into the game. It's still going to be fun. But there's going to be a level of chess that still has to be played."
The teams will meet again in Boston on Monday, June 10 for the second game of the finals before they head to Dallas’ American Airlines Center for Games 3 and 4.
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