3 Duds, 2 studs from Mavericks' brutal Game 1 loss to Celtics

The Dallas Mavericks began their journey to an NBA Championship on Thursday night in Boston. The team seemed poised and prepared to take on the Boston Celtics, as they clinched the Western Conference Championship with a 4-1 series win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Dallas' journey, however, took a tough turn when they fell to the Boston Celtics 107-89. The team struggled to get things going from the beginning, as they were down by 17 in the first quarter. Boston extended the lead to 29 points in the second quarter.

The Mavericks went on a 22-5 run in the third quarter to cut the lead to eight points. Boston would respond though with a 14-0 run of their own. The Celtics would take over from there, as the Celtics led by 20 to end the quarter.

3 Duds, 2 studs from Mavericks' brutal Game 1 loss to Celtics

Former Maverick Kristaps Porzingis torched his former team. The 7-foot-2 big finished the game with 20 points, six rebounds, and three blocks. He had 18 points at the end of the first half.

So besides Porzingis, what went wrong for the Mavs?

For starters, the team struggled from behind the 3-point line. The Mavs shot 25.9 percent from long range, knocking just seven 3-pointers the entire game.

Dallas also struggled to share the ball. The team finished the game with nine assists. This unusual from their previous series, where they had 15 assists in their Game 5 victory against Minnesota.

Here are three duds and two studs from the Dallas Mavericks' brutal Game 1 loss to the Boston Celtics.

5. Dud - Josh Green

Dallas Mavericks guard Josh Green was a critical part of the team's success against the Minnesota Timberwolves. His defense stole the show, as he recorded two steals in their Game 5 victory.

Green's defense has been vital in the team's playoff run. He plays hard-nosed defense and isn't afraid to use his hands to make things difficult for the opposition. Offensively, he will knock down a corner 3-pointer every so often. However, don't expect him to score a ton of points, as he averages 4.8 points per game in the playoffs.

Green's production though was non-existent against Boston. He recorded three points and three rebounds in 20 minutes. Otherwise, he struggled on both ends of the court.

The Mavs' forward shot 1-4 from the field, as his only points came with a minute left in the game. He knocked down a 3-pointer with 58.2 seconds left in garbage time.

His defense was also non-existent. Boston did an excellent job using the pick-and-roll game to force Green on Porzingis. This was a horrible mismatch, as the Celtics' big man used the switch to his advantage.

The Mavs will need Green to step up in Game 2 if they hope to have a fighting chance against the Celtics.

4. Stud - P.J. Washington

P.J. Washington has been a critical part of the Mavs' turnaround this season. He and Daniel Gafford were acquired at the trade deadline and became crucial starters for the team. After struggling to find consistency with the Charlotte Hornets, Washington was able to succeed in Dallas.

Washington celebrated in the locker room after the Mavs advanced to the Finals. He turned to Gafford and stated, "We went from the bottom to the top." These two have built a special bond in Dallas, and having them as two key pieces of the Mavs' core will be exciting to watch.

It's easy to see that Washington found a welcoming home with the Mavs. The Mavs forward grew up in Dallas and it's clear he loves playing here.

For him, making the finals was a whole 360, as his former team struggled to win games.

In his first finals appearance, he recorded a near double-double with 14 points and eight rebounds. He was the team's second-leading scorer. Washington knocked down 45.5 percent of his field goal attempts.

He did a great job attacking the rim, as he used his frame to score inside.

However, he struggled to convert his 3-point attempts. Washington went 0-3 from long range.

If Washington can knock his open 3-point attempts, this could play a key role in helping the Mavs' offensive production. The team will need him to continue scoring at a high level if they plan to bounce back in Game 2.

3. Dud - Daniel Gafford

One player who has been key in the Mavs' playoff success is Daniel Gafford. Gafford has been dominant in the playoffs, as he averages 9.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game.

He found tremendous success in the Western Conference Finals. He averaged 10.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks against the Minnesota Timberwolves. In Game 5, Gafford scored 11 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and went 100 percent from the field.

His success down low has helped the Mavs turn their season around. Gafford isn't afraid to body defenders inside and can use his big frame to contest shots. He also has formed a dynamic duo with Dereck Lively II as they have been interchangeable since Gafford arrived in Dallas.

Currently, he is averaging 21.8 minutes per game in the playoffs. This wasn't case Thursday though, as Gafford saw just 14 minutes of action.

The reason for his dip in minutes could be with his defense. The Mavs' big man struggled to contain the paint, as he recorded three rebounds. Boston was grabbing tons of offensive rebounds, and he isn't the most gifted defender in space. He also failed to shoot shots inside.

Gafford's biggest struggle was at the top of the key on both ends. He failed to contest the Celtics' 3-point attempts and struggled with his decision-making.

His pacing and footwork will need to improve if the Mavs hope to improve on the defensive end.

It will be interesting to see if Coach Jason Kidd decides to make a switch at the starting center position. It's unlikely, but Lively II may just be the better matchup.

2. Stud - Luka Doncic

The Dallas Mavericks struggled to score options on Thursday. The team shot 25.9 percent from the 3-point line and failed to get things going. The Mavs scored 20 points in the first quarter, struggling to match the Celtics' energy.

Aside from Luka Doncic, Dallas struggled to find offensive production from its other players. Only three other Mavericks scored double-digit points.

The issue was that no one outside of Luka scored above 15 points. P.J. Washington was the team's second-leading scorer with 14 points. Jaden Hardy trailed behind him with 13 points, although most of his points came in garbage time.

Luka Doncic was the team's leading scorer with 30 points. He shot 46 percent from the field and had a double-double with 10 rebounds. Doncic also contributed with two steals.

It's no question Doncic was the best player on the court Thursday. His 30 points were the most by any player on both teams.

The problem was his supporting cast failed to offer Doncic any support.

Now, this isn't saying Doncic is perfect either. The Mavs guard had four turnovers and struggled to get past the Celtics defenders. His 3-point jumper also wasn't falling, as he shot 4-12 from downtown.

He also showed signs of pain, as he looked bothered by his knee injury at times.

If Doncic and the Mavs can bounce back and win the Finals, Luka might become the greatest Maverick ever.

1. Dud - Kyrie Irving

Opposite of Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving struggled to get things going. The former NBA Champion failed to find any rhythm against his former team.

Irving shot 31.6 percent from the field and went 0-5 from the 3-point line. He missed a couple of open long-range attempts, that might have cut the Celtics' lead.

Aside from his shooting, he didn't have anything else going for him. Irving had just two assists and three turnovers.

The hostile environment may have been too much for him at times. The Mavs' guard was greeted with boos and chants whenever he touched the ball. Boston's fans even showed up with a Kyrie doll that they stomped on. Irving seemed unbothered, but he just wasn't himself in this game.

This was something Irving had anticipated. Before Thursday's game, he had prepared his teammates for TD Garden. He stressed the importance of composure and working as a team no matter what the crowd is saying.

Kyrie is 1-11 against Boston for his career. He will need to help the Mavs bounce back Sunday, if he hopes to change that narrative.

This is something Irving isn't afraid of. In a must-win Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, he recorded 16 points and four turnovers on 33.3 percent shooting. Fast forward to Game 5 and Irving flipped the script. He recorded 36 points on 51.9 percent.

Irving will need to help the troops win Sunday if he wants to win his second NBA Championship. History says he is due for a bounce-back game, and he always seems to respond when his team needs him.

For all the latest on Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks throughout the rest of the 2024 NBA Playoffs, stay tuned.