Boston's Depth Proves Too Much for Dallas

The Luka-Kyrie Duo Struggles as the Celtics Ground the Mavs

The Boston Celtics proved their depth on Tuesday night, defeating the Dallas Mavericks 112-104 in Game 1 of their Western Conference Finals series. Despite a strong performance from Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, the Celtics' bench outplayed the Mavericks', providing a crucial edge in the victory.

Boston's Depth Shines

The Celtics' bench contributed 48 points to the win, led by Grant Williams' 18 points and Derrick White's 15 points. Williams hit four three-pointers, while White made three of his own. The Celtics also got solid contributions from Malcolm Brogdon (8 points), Payton Pritchard (6 points), and Luke Kornet (5 points).

In contrast, the Mavericks' bench only managed 22 points. Spencer Dinwiddie led the way with 8 points, but no other Maverick scored more than 5 points. The Celtics' depth allowed them to keep fresh legs on the court throughout the game, which proved to be a major advantage in the fourth quarter.

Luka-Kyrie Duo Struggles

Dončić and Irving combined for 50 points on Tuesday night, but they struggled to find their rhythm throughout the game. Dončić finished with 28 points, but he shot just 9-of-24 from the field. Irving added 22 points, but he also shot just 9-of-21 from the field. The Celtics' defense did a good job of limiting the duo's scoring opportunities, and they also forced them into a combined 9 turnovers.

Celtics Ground the Mavs Bigs

The Celtics also did a good job of containing the Mavericks' big men. Christian Wood was held to just 12 points and 8 rebounds, while Dwight Powell was limited to 6 points and 5 rebounds. The Celtics' defense was particularly impressive in the paint, where they allowed the Mavericks to shoot just 38.5% from the field.

The Celtics now lead the Western Conference Finals 1-0. Game 2 will be played on Thursday night in Dallas.