Celtics Dominate Mavericks in Game 1, Take 1-0 Series Lead

Porzingis Returns, Drops 20 Points

The Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks 107-89 in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinals series on Tuesday night. Kristaps Porzingis, who had missed the last three games with a calf injury, returned to the lineup for the Mavericks and scored 20 points. However, it wasn't enough to overcome the Celtics, who were led by Jayson Tatum's 29 points.

Celtics Take Control Early

The Celtics jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. They led by 10 points after the first quarter and extended their lead to 20 points by halftime. The Mavericks made a run in the third quarter, cutting the lead to single digits, but the Celtics responded with a run of their own to put the game away.

Tatum Leads the Way

Tatum was the driving force behind the Celtics' victory. He scored 29 points on 11-of-19 shooting, including 4-of-9 from three-point range. He also added 11 rebounds and 6 assists.

Porzingis Returns for Mavericks

Porzingis made his return to the Mavericks lineup after missing the last three games with a calf injury. He played 29 minutes and scored 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting. He also grabbed 9 rebounds.

Luka Doncic Struggles

Luka Doncic, the Mavericks' leading scorer, had a tough night. He scored just 15 points on 6-of-20 shooting, including 0-of-7 from three-point range. He also had 6 turnovers.

Game 2 on Thursday

Game 2 of the series will be played on Thursday night in Boston. The Celtics will be looking to take a 2-0 lead, while the Mavericks will be looking to even the series.