Celtics Hold Off Mavericks to Take 2-0 NBA Finals Lead

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown led the Boston Celtics to a 105-98 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, giving Boston a 2-0 series lead.

The Boston Celtics took a commanding 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals on Sunday night, holding on to defeat the Dallas Mavericks 105-98 in Game 2 at TD Garden.

Despite a late 9-0 run by the Mavericks that cut the Celtics' lead to five points, Boston managed to weather the storm and secure the win. A clutch layup by Jaylen Brown with less than two minutes remaining sealed the victory for the Celtics.

Brown finished with an impressive stat line of 21 points, seven assists, four rebounds, and three steals. He played a crucial role in Boston's defensive effort, especially in the fourth quarter when the Mavericks were making a push.

Jayson Tatum nearly recorded a triple-double for the Celtics, finishing with 18 points, 12 assists, and nine rebounds. Despite shooting 6-of-22 from the field, Tatum made up for his inefficiency with his playmaking ability and rebounding.

Jrue Holiday led the way for the Celtics in scoring, finishing with 26 points and 11 rebounds. He was efficient from the field, shooting 9-of-14. Kyrie Irving added 16 points and six rebounds, while Derrick White contributed 10 points off the bench.

For the Mavericks, Luka Doncic played through various injuries and finished with 32 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists. He shot 12-of-21 from the field and 4-of-9 from three-point range. However, Doncic had a costly turnover late in the game that thwarted the Mavericks' momentum.

P.J. Washington was a bright spot for Dallas, scoring 17 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Reggie Bullock added 14 points off the bench, but the Mavericks' shooting struggles ultimately proved costly.

Dallas shot well from the field, hitting 47.5%, but they struggled from three-point range, shooting only 23.1%. Their 15 turnovers, especially late in the game, also played a significant role in their defeat.

The series now shifts to Dallas for Games 3 and 4, which will be played on Wednesday and Friday nights. The Mavericks will need to regroup and find a way to slow down the Celtics' offense if they want to get back into the series.

The Celtics, on the other hand, will look to continue their dominant play and take a 3-0 lead in the Finals. They have shown a balanced attack with multiple players stepping up, which makes them a formidable opponent.