The Boston Celtics secured a 105-98 win over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, extending their series lead to 2-0. Despite a strong performance from Luka Dončić, who recorded a 32-point triple-double, the Mavericks were unable to overcome the Celtics’ resilience and depth.
Dallas showed improvement from their Game 1 loss, with Dončić scoring 23 points in the first half and Kyrie Irving contributing 10 points. However, Boston maintained a slim 54-51 lead at halftime despite struggling from beyond the arc, shooting just 3-of-15.
The Celtics’ defense tightened in the third quarter, forcing multiple turnovers from Dončić, which they converted into points. A highlight came when Payton Pritchard hit a crucial three-pointer, extending Boston’s lead to 83-74.
Jrue Holiday led the Celtics with 26 points and 11 rebounds, delivering one of his best performances of the season. Jaylen Brown added 21 points, while Jayson Tatum contributed with 18 points, 12 assists, and 9 rebounds, despite a poor shooting night. Derrick White also made significant contributions, particularly with a critical block in the final minute that helped seal the victory.
Dallas rallied late in the fourth quarter, reducing the deficit to 103-98 with just over a minute remaining. However, White’s block on P.J. Washington’s layup attempt thwarted the Mavericks’ comeback hopes.
For the Mavericks, Irving’s second-half struggles and the team’s missed free throws were costly. Irving finished with 16 points on 7-of-18 shooting, missing all three of his three-point attempts. Dallas shot 16-of-24 from the free-throw line, compared to Boston’s 19-of-20.
The series now shifts to Dallas for Game 3, where the Mavericks will look to leverage home-court advantage to climb back into the series. However, with NBA history favoring teams with a 2-0 lead, the Mavericks face a challenging path ahead.
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