The Boston Celtics are off to a strong start in their quest to secure an 18th NBA championship at home.
The Celtics closed out the first quarter of Monday’s NBA Finals Game 5 on a 9-0 run and took a 67-46 lead over the Dallas Mavericks into halftime, leaving them 24 basketball minutes away from a championship. A mix of strong team defense and double-digit scoring from Jayson Tatum (16 points), Jaylen Brown (15 points) and Jrue Holiday (11 points) lead the way.
Can the Mavericks mount a second-half rally or will the Celtics celebrate a championship at home?
Just a brutal three games in Boston for Kyrie. He’s getting clean looks. Just can’t make them. 3-12 now from the floor. Irving and Doncic 1-11 from three-point range. 82-64, Boston.
Josh Green wants to extend this series! Dude is 4-of-4 from deep.
Luka settling
Luka is just settling for jumpers. Whether it’s injury, fatigue or whatever, he has not even tried to get to the rim. Had Al Horford all alone at the top of the key and didn’t even consider trying anything other than his step-back, and he’s now 0-of-5 from three.
Al Horford still strong
Al Horford is 17 years older than Dereck Lively II and just used every ounce of his old man strength to bully him under the basket and draw a foul. Strong start to the third quarter for Horford.
Celtics hitting their 3s
That Al Horford 3 gets the Celtics up to 12-of-23 from distance. Seven members of Boston’s eight-man rotation have connected from deep. (Porzingis is the exception.) They are outscoring Dallas by 18 points from the arc.
Tatum getting it done
Jayson Tatum’s first half: 16 points, four rebounds, nine assists, zero turnovers. But what’s been most impressive is the fact he’s seeming to exorcise his demons of not getting to the rim and finishing enough. All of his makes besides that step-back 3 at the end of the second quarter have come in the paint and at the rim.
Celtics lead 67-46 at halftime
Payton Pritchard hits another half-court 3-point bomb as the second quarter expires to give the Celtics a 67-46 halftime lead.
Luka struggling
2-of-8 for Luka for just 5 points. He’s got 3 turnovers, and it feels like a lot more based on the lack of impact. He’s botching pretty much all of the mid-range looks that he could not miss in Game 4.
Luka needs some smelling salts, some No-Doze. He has just not been engaged. He’s not playing with force. He’s sleepwalking.
Celtics go small with Tatum at center, offering little protection, and a couple quick bunnies get the Mavericks back to single digits. Tatum calls a quick timeout, presumably to get a big in there.
Luka again struggling from the foul line. He’s just 1-of-3 tonight. He entered tonight 15-of-24 in the ser. Bizarre inconsistency there from an All-NBA player who’s a career 75% shooter from the line.
Jayson Tatum delivering
Jayson Tatum is on early triple-double watch, posting an 11-4-7 in his first 17 minutes. His outside shot still isn’t falling, but he’s getting to the rim against Dallas’ bigs. Still seven minutes to play in the second quarter.
Dallas is getting plenty from Derrick Jones Jr. He’s hit a corner three. He’s putting his head down and getting to the basket. He finished a lob. His last drive just drew two foul shots. And yet the Mavs are still down 12.
Kyrie just hit his first 3-pointer in Boston this series. It was matched immediately by Jrue Holiday hitting one at the other end.
The “let it fly” mantra has the Celtics 5-of-12 from 3. Tatum has been facilitating with six assists.
Luka played all 12 minutes of the first quarter. He’s on the bench to start the second, but walking back to the scorer’s table just over a minute into this frame.
