The Boston Celtics put on a clinic in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night, dominating the Dallas Mavericks with a 107-89 victory.
Despite a momentary challenge from the Mavericks, who cut the Celtics’ 21-point halftime lead to eight in the third quarter, Boston quickly regained control.
Jrue Holiday on Celtics’ resilience after winning Game 1 of NBA Finals
The team’s resilience was a testament to their leadership and composure, key elements highlighted by Jrue Holiday.
“Staying poised,”Holiday told NBC Sports after when asked how the Celtics managed to fend off Dallas’ comeback attempt.
“JB telling us to stay poised, Al [Horford] telling us to stay poised because we know that runs happen in this game and 20 points is nothing, so we withstood the punch and got [the lead] back up to 20.”
Jaylen Brown’s emergence as a leader has been a critical factor for the Celtics, especially following the departure of Marcus Smart.
Brown, who was named Eastern Conference Finals MVP after a standout series against the Indiana Pacers, demonstrated his leadership both on and off the court in Game 1.
“In that situation, I thought JB was key for us,”Horford said, reflecting on a crucial third-quarter timeout.
“In the huddle he just told us to make sure that we got refocused, that we stayed with it, we stayed composed, and his words at that time, JB’s words, I think they resonated with the group and kind of refocused us again, and we were able to come out and really put a run (together) in that third quarter.”
Brown led the Celtics in scoring with 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting and made significant contributions on defense with three blocks and three steals.
His defensive prowess made him the first Celtic in history to achieve such a stat line in a Finals game.
Additionally, Brown added six rebounds and two assists, underscoring his all-around performance.
Holiday: We know how to stay clam
Jrue Holiday also reflected on the Celtics’ ability to stay calm and focused under pressure.
“I think it’s what this team has been through even before I got here. The losses, the pressure, and the leadership they’ve shown have made it easy to stay calm and stay focused,” he commented.
With a Game 1 win now secured, giving Boston a 1-0 series lead, the odds are in their favor.
Historically, teams that win Game 1 at home have gone on to win the championship 79 percent of the time.
The Celtics will aim to maintain their momentum as they face the Mavericks again on Sunday night for Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
