Tatum's 32 Points Lead Celtics Past Mavericks
Boston Takes Game 1 in NBA Finals
Jayson Tatum made five 3-pointers and scored 32 points as the Boston Celtics overcame Luka Doncic's second-half surge to beat the Dallas Mavericks 125-112 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night.
Doncic finished with 42 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, but he could not overcome a slow start by the Mavericks, who trailed by 18 points at halftime.
Tatum helped the Celtics build their lead early, scoring 17 points in the first quarter. He was efficient from the field, making 12-of-19 shots, including 5-of-9 from 3-point range.
The Celtics also got strong contributions from Jaylen Brown (24 points) and Marcus Smart (21 points).
The Mavericks made a run in the third quarter, cutting the Celtics' lead to six points. But Tatum answered with a 3-pointer and the Celtics held on for the win.
Conclusion
The Celtics took a 1-0 lead in the NBA Finals with their win over the Mavericks. Tatum was the star of the game, but he got plenty of help from his teammates. The Mavericks will need to make some adjustments if they want to even the series in Game 2.
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