Kristaps Porzingis Drops 20 Off the Bench, 11 in 1st Quarter to Spark Celtics Blowout in Game 1 (107-89)
Well, that happened. We didn't forget about Kristaps Porzingis, but his impact in Game 1 made us realize that... maybe we did? He just made Boston an undeniable NBA Finals giant after a 'monster' Game 1 performance in limited minutes. Porzingis, who returned from a calf injury after missing the last two series, came off the bench in the first quarter last night and sent an absolute series-altering message. He played seven minutes in the first and took over on both ends of the floor (11 pts, 3 rebs, 3 blk). The game was relatively close until he checked in, then Boston led by 17 after Q1 thanks to a 23-5 run with Porzingis on the court.
"Kristaps had a monster game for us. Just his presence shooting the ball and then him being able to attack those switches and mismatches, he made 'em pay every time, and that's what we need going forward in the series." - Jaylen Brown
The Celtics led by as many as 29 before Luka Doncic caught fire and the Mavericks stormed back. Dallas cut the lead within eight, but Boston stepped on the gas late and sprinted back to a blowout. Don’t let the box score fool you. Porzingis is back, and his 20 points off the bench made the difference in Game 1.
Kristaps Porzingis Game 1 Stats
20 Points, 6 Rebounds, 3 Blocks (21 Minutes)
Play of the Game: Jaylen Brown Crosses Up Luka Doncic & Throws Down Poster
Other Top Players
L. Doncic (DAL): 30 pts, 10 rebs
J. Brown (BOS): 22 pts, 6 rebs
J. Tatum (BOS): 16 pts, 11 rebs, 5 asts
P. Washington (DAL): 14 pts, 8 rebs
K. Irving (DAL): 12 pts (0-for-5, 3pt)
Watch: Celtics, Porzingis Send Early Message to Mavs in Game 1 of NBA Finals (107-89)
Finals Fact: The Game 1 winner of the NBA Finals has won the series 70 percent of the time.
🏆 NBA Finals Schedule
Gm 2: Mavericks at Celtics (Sun. 8:00 pm, ABC)
BOS Leads Series (1-0)
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