The Boston Celtics have taken a commanding 2-0 lead against the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals, as Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum combined for 65 points in Game 2.
Holiday was Boston’s highest scorer on the floor at TD Garden on Sunday night with 26 points, as the Celtics point guard scored 17 on 7-of-9 shooting in the first half.
Brown and Tatum, meanwhile, respectively had 21 and 18. Tatum struggled in the first half, putting up only five points on 0-3 three-point attempts and 2-9 overall shots.
Despite another double-double performance – 32 points and 11 assists – Luka Doncic, who was listed as questionable to play with less than two hours before the opening tipoff, had eight turnovers with -3 net rating by the end of the game.
Kyrie Irving, who was part of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 2016 NBA title win, was Dallas’ highest scorer of the night with 16 points. He, too, had a net rating of -3, as only PJ Washington (17 points) and Daniel Gafford (11 points) had positive +/- ratings of +2 and 0, respectively.
Jrue Holiday was Boston’s best offensive player in the first half with 16 pts. He had 28 in total
Dallas duo Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving ended Game 2 with the same negative net ratings of -3
Only PJ Washington (pictured) and Daniel Gafford were the only Mavs players in double digits
Game 3 is Wednesday night in Dallas. The Mavericks need a win then or in Game 4 on Friday to avoid a sweep and earn a trip back to the Boston Garden, where local fans are already making space in the rafters for what would be an unprecedented 18th NBA championship banner.
The Celtics won the opening pair in the NBA Finals for the ninth time. They have won the previous eight, and have never been forced to a Game 7 in any of them.
More to follow…
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