By Melody Gross 
The Boston Celtics once again defeated the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, adding, albeit with less authority, their second victory in the NBA playoff final, by defeating TD Garden with a score of 105-98.
After winning 107-89 in the first game, the Celtics faced more difficulties, but took a decisive lead early in the third period, extending the lead to more than 10 points on several occasions.
With 3:32 minutes left in the match, the hosts led by 14 points (103-89) and the match seemed closed, but the Mavericks achieved a 9-0 lead and put themselves within five points (103-98), with just over a minute to play.
On the ensuing offense, the Mavs could have taken a stand and reopened the game once and for all, but the referees did not call a clear foul by Jaylen Brown on P.J. Washington and the game ended there, with the Celtics holding the score at -2. 0.
Jrue Holiday scored 26 points, 11 of 14 on shots from the field, and 11 rebounds, a record for the Celtics, who also scored 21 points from Jaylen Brown, 18 points from Derrick White and 18 points, 12 assists and nine assists. Rebounds from Jayson Tatum, who made just six of 22 shots from the field.
For the Mavericks, Slovenian Luka Doncic was once again in excellent form, scoring 32 points, 23 of them in the first half, along with 11 rebounds and 11 assists, making 12 of 21 shots from the field. He “fell” on free throws (four out of nine) and on “turnovers” (eight).
It's also worth noting that PJ Washington had 17 points and seven rebounds, Daniel Gafford had 13 points and nine rebounds, and on the negative side, 16 points were scored by Kyrie Irving, who made just seven of 18 shots from the field.
The Mavericks started better and made the most with seven points (6-13), but the hosts, even without scoring the “treble”, responded and tied at 22, before another good moment from the outside team, which ended the first half leading (25-28). Thanks to Doncic's 13 points.
In the second half, the Slovenian continued his inspiration, as he reached the end of the first half with 23 points, but it was the Celtics team that took the lead (54-51), benefiting from 17 points from Jrue Holiday and 10 from substitute Kristaps Porzingis.
The Mavs continued to lead in the third period (54-55), but the Celtics quickly returned to control of the match, and went ahead 10-0, taking a 12-point lead (75-63), which they still rose to 13 (80-67). ).
The Texans continued their response, putting themselves six points behind (80-74), before scoring a “three-pointer” on the board from Payton Pritchard, from a very long distance, over the horn, which put the locals ahead by nine points ( 83-74). ) after three periods.
In the fourth quarter, the Celtics were always on top and leading by 14 points, but they “made it easy” at the end, and if it were not for the “lapse” of the referees, they could have found themselves with a lead of only 14 points. One possession of the ball with one minute to play.
Portuguese international midfielder Neemias Queta, who is in his third season in the NBA and first with the Boston Celtics, participated in 28 games in the 2023/24 regular season and two in the playoffs, but he has not participated for the first time yet. In the “finals”, which continues on Wednesday with its first match in Texas.
The match was held at TD Garden, in Boston, Massachusetts.
The Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks 105-98 (2-0).
Between halftime: 54-51.
Under the refereeing of the Tony Brothers, Bill Kennedy and John Goble, the teams lined up as follows:
Boston Celtics: Jrue Holiday (26), Derrick White (18), Jaylen Brown (21), Jayson Tatum (18) and Al Horford (5). Kristaps Porzingis (12), Sam Hauser (2) and Payton Pritchard (3) also played.
trainer: Joe Mazzola.
Dallas Mavericks: Luka Doncic (32), Kyrie Irving (16), Derrick Jones Jr. (11), P.J. Washington (17) and Daniel Gafford (13). Derek Lively II (2), Maxi Kleber, Josh Green (4), Jaden Hardy, and Dante Exum (3) also played.
trainer: Jason Kidd.
Marker gait: 25-28 (first quarter), 54-51 (first half), 83-74 (third quarter), 105-98 (final score).
help: 19,156 spectators.