Game 1 was a blowout. Game 2 was a rock fight. But in a defensive struggle, the Boston Celtics showed just enough offense, and a whole lot of defense, to escape with a 105-98 win and a 2-0 series lead in the NBA Finals. Here are three turning points from Game 2.
1. Derrick White blocks P.J. Washington’s shot
The Boston Celtics led by 14 points with 3:34 to go, thanks to a three-pointer by Derrick White that seemed to seal the game. The shot forced a timeout by Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, and whatever he said in that huddle had to be extremely inspiring.
But Dallas responded with a 9-0 run. Two layups, two free throws and a three-point play cut Boston’s lead to 103-98. Then Derrick Jones Jr. blocked Jayson Tatum’s dunk, and Kyrie Irving found P.J. Washington streaking to the rim. That’s where White met him for a huge block, even though ESPN’s Mike Breen contended that Jaylen Brown probably fouled him.
That’s for the Last Two-Minute Report to decide. What we saw was the last flourish of a bravura defensive performance from White, who blocked two shots and got three steals, including on that got Jrue Holiday a late three-pointer.
Jayson Tatum finishes through contact in the third
It wasn’t one of the best shooting games of Tatum’s career. Halfway through the third quarter, Tatum had shot only 3-for-11 from the field, perhaps validating Jason Kidd’s claim that Brown, and not Tatum, was Boston’s best player.
But the key to a bad shooting performance is contributing in different ways, and with Tatum’s jumper not falling, he turned to his drive.
Tatum didn’t complete the three-point play, nor did his shooting improve for the rest of the game. He finished 6-for-22 from the field and 1-for-7 from three-point range. But he did a lot of non-shooting stuff, registering 12 assists and nine rebounds, continually finding open teammates after collapsing the defense.
He also regularly took turns on Luka Doncic, and while the Celtics didn’t stop the Mavericks’ All-NBA guard, they slowed him down. After his layup, Tatum stole the ball from Doncic, and Boston went on a 10-0 run, capped by Tatum’s pass to Holiday. Doncic hit a three to end the run, but Tatum answered with a layup.
Tatum is probably resorting to the step back jumper too much in crunch time, but he’s been very versatile. Perhaps what was holding back Tatum before in the playoffs wasn’t anything about him, but simply his teammates not being good enough. Now he trusts them and the Celtics are up 2-0.
3. Jaylen Brown shuts down Kyrie Irving early
It was not the finest playoff performance from Kyrie Irving, who finished with 16 points on 7-for-18 shooting. Dallas desperately needed a second scorer alongside Doncic, who finished with a 32-point triple-double, and Irving couldn’t overcome Boston’s tenacious defense. A first-quarter play demonstrated his game-long struggle.
The Mavericks offense relies on forcing mismatches and putting defense in uncomfortable positions. But against the Celtics, who are willing to switch everything, Dallas is forced to score in one-on-one situations.
Doncic managed to do it in Game 2, but Irving greatly struggled against All-Defensive guards Jrue Holiday and Derrick White, not to mention the top vote-getter not to make All-Defensive, Brown.
Brown and his teammates forced 15 Dallas turnovers, eight from Doncic. The physical defense affected the Mavericks, and when they got fouled, they struggled early at the foul line. But Irving simply had to work too hard. He still made some incredible baskets, but as good as he is going to the rim, it’s hard to make an impact when so many shots are difficult.
The big Brown stop came after Doncic had to leave the game due to a cut. It temporarily killed the Mavericks momentum, and Irving never managed to deliver the secondary performance the Mavericks needed in a close loss.
