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Celtics vs. Mavericks NBA Finals: Game 2 score, live updates, highlights, analysis as Boston looks to go up 2-0

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Celtics vs. Mavericks NBA Finals: Game 2 score, live updates, highlights, analysis as Boston looks to go up 2-0

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After cruising to a 107-89 Game 1 win behind a huge return to the lineup from Kristaps Porzingis and a balanced scoring effort, the Boston Celtics have their eyes on a 2-0 series lead in the NBA Finals over the Dallas Mavericks.

Luka Doncic, who was listed as questionable heading into tonight’s Game 2, was a scorer in the first game of the series with 30 points, but he produced just one assist and Kyrie Irving was held to just 6-of-16 shooting in a poor offensive effort for Dallas. Aside from a flurry coming out of halftime, when Dallas cut what was once a 29 point lead to single digits, the Celtics controlled the game on both ends, and had six players in double figures.

Teams that win Game 1 of the NBA Finals go on to win the series 70% of the time, and the Celtics will try to move a step closer to adding an 18th banner to the rafters at TD Garden, while the Mavericks can still steal home court advantage with a Game 2 win tonight.

Follow along with Yahoo Sports NBA experts Jason Fischer, Vincent Goodwill and Ben Rohrbach for Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

Live27 updates

  • Derrick Jones Jr. stepping up

    Some huge contributions from Derrick Jones Jr. An offensive rebound and assist to cutting Josh Green, finishes a sweet no-look pass from Luka, then steals a Tatum pass and finishes an and-1 to draw Tatum’s second foul.

  • Doncic doing it all — except at the FT line

    Luka has had every shot type in his bag fall tonight … except his free throws as he’s 2-of-5 from the line. We’re seeing him get plenty of work in postups that we haven’t really seen from him this postseason, but Doncic has absolutely relied on in past playoffs.

  • Jaylen Brown, who’s mic’d up for the night, has some encouragement for his team:

    “Whatever you do, do it with confidence,” Brown said. “Embrace the moment. Breathe into it.”

  • Dante Exum gets early minutes

    Dante Exum starts the second quarter for Dallas with Luka and Kyrie both on the floor. Exum only played in garbage time in Game 1, but this three-guard lineup was one of the Mavs’ best during the regular season.

  • Where’s Jayson Tatum?

    And just like Game 1, Jayson Tatum is scoreless, this time for the entire first quarter. He’s 0-of-4 from the floor with 1 assist.

  • Dončić isn’t letting his injuries slow him down, getting in a tricky one-legged jumper. He leads the Mavs with 15 points in the first quarter.

  • Boston fortunate so far

    The Celtics should feel lucky to be down 3. They’re forcing turnovers and the Mavs are missing at the FT line (4-of-9). By the way, Jayson Tatum is 0-4 from the floor

  • Celtics struggling from 3

    After hitting seven 3-pointers and taking a 17-point lead in the opening quarter of Game 1, the Celtics missed their first eight attempts from distance in Game 2 and trail after one, 28-25. Each member of Boston’s rotation missed at least one 3-point attempt before Al Horford broke the streak with five seconds left in the first frame.

  • Kyrie getting it done

    Kyrie just has a way of nailing twisting layups that puncture a road crowd. Two big ones to give Dallas the lead after one quarter.

  • Letting them play

    There’s been a very light whistle so far in this one. Nine fouls (5 on Dallas, 4 on Boston) ha generated 14 total free throws. And Boston is 10-of-10 from the line.

  • Guarding Luka

    Jrue Holiday has spent the last few possessions on Luka, but he draws his second foul. Before Tatum went to the bench, the Celtics had their All-NBA superstar guarding Lively, so that Tatum and Brown could easily switch the Doncic assignment.

  • Jaylen Brown keeps adding to his NBA Finals highlight reel

  • Making things easier for Luka

    Dallas is trying to alleviate pressure on Luka by having someone else bring up the ball. You can’t tell he’s hurt when he’s dancing, but Luka is laboring a bit.

  • Luka Dončić was seen heavily wrapped up during pregame. Per the Mavericks, Dončić is suffering from a chest injury, right knee sprain and left ankle soreness going into the game, but is toughing it out for the Finals.

  • Maxi Kleber misfiring

    After hardly looking to shoot in Game 1, Maxi Kleber doesn’t hesitate to fire on his first look in Game 2. His first was a total airball, short. His second attempt clanked off the rim on the next possession. The Mavericks need his effectiveness from distance — especially in two-big lineups like this current Dallas group with him and Dereck Lively.

  • Mavs lose challenge early

    Not a terrific challenge from Jason Kidd. P.J. Washington clearly made contact with Derrick White, and now the Mavs are down a timeout.

  • Kyrie getting it done early

    Kyrie enjoyed a super long warmup tonight, going through his spinning layup package and bombing threes for almost 30 minutes. Most guys’ on-court work takes about 15. It’s showing so far as he’s been aggressive from the jump for five of Dallas’ first 13 points as the Celtics call timeout with 8:18 remaining in the first.

  • Luka a target

    On several of Boston’s first few half-court possessions, Jayson Tatum has intentionally hunted Luka Doncic on switches. The Celtics want to wear down the Mavs superstar.

  • Boston still doesn’t like Kyrie

    The boo birds sound even louder for Kyrie Irving tonight than on Thursday, but he’s on the board with his first bucket on a driving layup at 11:11 of the first.

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