The Boston Celtics secured a commanding 105-98 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 2 of the NBA Finals at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, pushing their series lead to 2-0.
Learning from their Game 1 loss on June 6, the Mavericks saw Luka Doncic ignite their offense in the first quarter, shooting 9-for-13 from the field and racking up 23 points in the first half. This explosive start was crucial for Dallas, as they needed Doncic to not only provide firepower but also to pressure the Celtics' defense, creating opportunities for his teammates.
However, the Celtics adjusted their strategy in the second quarter by double-teaming Doncic beyond the 3-point line, which limited his scoring to just nine points in the second half. Unfortunately for the Mavericks, their teammates struggled from long range, missing 20 of their 26 3-point attempts. Doncic managed to sink four of nine three-pointers, but it wasn't enough to overcome Boston's defensive adjustments.
With this win, the Celtics take a strong position in the series, while the Mavericks find themselves in serious trouble as they attempt to recover from a 2-0 deficit.
Reference(s):
NBA highlights on June 9: Mavs in serious trouble against Celtics
cgtn.com
