Unicorn Is Big Off The Bench For Boston
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Samori Benjamin – Staff Writer
Nightmare Game For Kyrie In Return To Boston
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
The Boston Celtics won the first game the 2024 NBA Finals Thursday night with a 107-89 win over the Dallas Mavericks. Former Knicks first round draft pick Kristaps Porzingis had the biggest impact in this game as he came off the bench after not playing since the first round to score 18 first half points in 13 minutes. Porzingis last played in Game 3 of Boston’s first round series against Miami where he left the game early with a calf injury that had him sidelined until last night. Porzingis was also a factor on defense blocking three shots and altering countless others. He finished with 20 points, just two off Jaylen Brown’s team high 22. Celtics All-NBA First Teamer Jason Tatum finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Kyrie Irving, who spurned the Celtics in the summer of 2019 to play for the Brooklyn Nets, has been hated by the Boston fans since and had a dreadful game 1 making just 6 of 19 shots and finishing with 12 points. Dallas’ best player Luka Donic had 30 points and 10 rebounds but Boston held him to just one assist on the night. “They mostly played one on one, they didn’t send a lot of help, so that’s why,” Doncic said after the game.
Porzingis played for Dallas from 2019 through 2022 before they traded him to Washington before the trade deadline in 2022. Clearly, he has something to prove versus his former team. “He was great for them, he was knocking down shots, he was blocking shots, so he was really huge for them on both ends of the court.” Doncic said of his old teammate. Kyrie Irving on the other hand has not fared well against his former team. The loss in game 1 was his 11th consecutive loss against his former team dating back to his time with the Brooklyn Nets. Game 2 is Sunday night.
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