BOSTON, MA – The Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks 105-98 in game two of the NBA Finals, giving Boston a 2-0 lead in the series.
Dallas struggled to score against one of the best defenses in the NBA, while an unexpected player emerged as the top scorer for the C’s, Jrue Holiday.
As the Mavericks focused on double-teaming Jayson Tatum while keeping an eye on Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis, Holiday took advantage of gaps in the Mavs’ defense to score 26 points and grab 11 rebounds, many in the paint and right at the net.
“I’m a utility guy,” said Holiday, and if that is all he is, consider him the best player in the NBA in that role. “I’ll do whatever. I’m here to win. I feel like they brought me here to win, and I’ll do my best to do that.”
On the night, both sides had dreadful shooting, with the Celtics going 10-39 from deep and the Mavericks not far behind, shooting 6 for 26 in the game.
The talent difference between the two teams was evident once the three-point shooting didn’t come through, as Boston’s well-oiled machine was able to handle whatever Dallas threw at them.
The Dallas front, which is a two-headed monster, was playing with one head, as the C’s were able to render Kyrie Irving ineffective, taking away space and making his famous handle ineffective, holding him to 16 points and a 0 for 3 shooting night from deep.
Porzingis appeared to limp late in the game after lunging for a rebound, but still managed another solid night with 12 points on four of seven shooting. Like the rest of the team, he struggled with poor shooting from deep, going zero for three.
Luka Doncic put forth his best in the first half, giving the Mavs 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists. But he scored only three points in the fourth, converting a three-point play with 1:15 left as Dallas scored nine in a row to cut a 14-point deficit to 103-98. He battled the Celtics on offense, drilling many of his famed fadeaway shots from the elbow and punishing Boston when help faded too far out in the paint with a lob to a big man for a dunk.
Game three of the NBA Finals moves to Dallas for games 3 and 4 on Wednesday and Friday. Boston has not lost on the road this postseason.
