Celtics Mavs

Celtics Cruise Past Mavericks in Game 1

Boston's Depth Proves Too Much for Dallas

Luka-Kyrie Duo Struggles as Celtics Take 1-0 Series Lead

The Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks 107-89 in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday night. The Celtics' depth proved to be too much for the Mavericks, as Boston had seven players score in double figures. Jason Tatum led the way with 25 points, while Jaylen Brown added 21 and Marcus Smart chipped in with 18.

The Mavericks were led by Luka Doncic's 24 points, but the Slovenian superstar struggled with his efficiency, shooting just 8-of-21 from the field. Kyrie Irving also had a disappointing game, scoring just 16 points on 6-of-16 shooting.

The Celtics took control of the game in the second quarter, outscoring the Mavericks 35-17. Boston's defense was stifling, holding Dallas to just 32.4% shooting from the field in the first half.

The Mavericks made a run in the third quarter, but the Celtics quickly regained control. Boston led by as many as 25 points in the fourth quarter before cruising to the 107-89 victory.

Here are five takeaways from the Celtics' Game 1 win:

1. **Boston's depth is a major advantage.** The Celtics have a number of players who can step up and make big plays, which makes them a tough team to defend. 2. **The Mavericks need to find a way to get Luka Doncic more efficient.** Doncic is the Mavericks' best player, but he needs to be more efficient if Dallas wants to beat the Celtics. 3. **Kyrie Irving needs to step up.** Irving is a superstar, but he has not played well in the playoffs so far. The Mavericks need him to be more consistent if they want to win this series. 4. **The Celtics' defense is playing at a high level.** The Celtics are holding opponents to just 39.3% shooting from the field in the playoffs. Their defense is one of the main reasons why they are a contender for the championship. 5. **The Mavericks are not out of this series yet.** The Mavericks have shown that they can compete with the Celtics, but they will need to play better in Game 2 if they want to tie the series.