Luka Doncic's early dominance set the tone as the Mavericks secured a massive 122-84 victory over the Celtics in Dallas, taking a commanding lead in the series. Doncic's unstoppable offense propelled the Mavs to a double-digit lead in the first quarter, leaving Boston struggling to keep up throughout the game.
Despite Boston's hopes of clinching their 18th championship in Texas, the Celtics faltered as their stars failed to perform, with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown struggling to find their rhythm. The Mavs' defensive prowess limited Boston to just 36 percent shooting from the field, while Doncic and Kyrie Irving led the charge on offense.
In a one-sided affair from the start, Dallas dominated every quarter, with their lead growing steadily throughout the game. Tim Hardaway Jr.'s fourth-quarter performance, including four consecutive three-pointers, sealed Boston's fate as they suffered a tough defeat that could impact the rest of the series.
With the series now heading back to Boston, the Celtics face an uphill battle to turn things around after their first away loss in the playoffs. Despite their regular season dominance, Boston will need a strong performance at home to keep their championship hopes alive against a resilient Mavericks team.
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