Celtics vs. Mavericks NBA Finals: Game 2 live updates, score, analysis, highlights

Live31 updates

• Sunday June 9, 2024 at 9:28 pmEDT

  Celtics non-stars make it, unlike Mavs role players

  Dallas gets nothing from its supporting cast. The Mavericks, who were not named Luka Doncic or Kyrie Irving, started by making 2 of 13 shots from the field and finished the first half with 18 points on 20 shots. Meanwhile, Boston’s “others” are getting off to a slow start in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who have combined for 13 points on 14 shots in the first half. Every other Celtics player has scored 41 points on 25 shots. Boston leads at halftime, 54-51.

• 

  Sunday June 9, 2024 at 9:12 pmEDT

  Tatum the playmaker

  Tatum has been exceptional as a willing passer. Up to 8 assists. He is attacking closeouts with the goal of creating for others and has generated almost half of Boston’s points even while scoring only 5 of his own.

• 

  Sunday June 9, 2024 at 9:09 pmEDT

  Tatum contributing in other ways

  Tatum is not scoring, that and-1 was almost exasperated; but he does add seven assists in the first half. Maybe that’s a record for him.

• 

  Sunday June 9, 2024 at 9:08 pmEDT

  Jrue Holiday is feeling it

  Jrue Holiday has been huge in keeping Boston up to speed with Dallas’ offense. Back cuts, powerful thrusts, a variety of floaters. He is the Celtics’ leading scorer with 14 points.

• 

  Sunday, June 9, 2024 at 9:00 p.m.EDT

  Derrick Jones Jr. steps forward

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

• 

  Sunday June 9, 2024 at 8:58 pmEDT

  Doncic does everything except on the FT line

  Luka had every type of shot in his bag tonight…except his free throws, as he went 2-for-5 from the line. We’re seeing him work a lot on post-ups that we haven’t really seen him do this postseason, but Doncic has been absolutely confident in past playoffs.

• 

  Sunday June 9, 2024 at 8:54 pmEDT

  Jaylen Brown, who has his microphone on for the night, encourages his team:

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

• 

  Sunday June 9, 2024 at 8:48 pmEDT

  Dante Exum gets the first minutes

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

• 

  Sunday June 9, 2024 at 8:46 pmEDT

  Where is Jayson Tatum?

  And just like in Game 1, Jayson Tatum doesn’t score a goal, this time for the entire first quarter. He is 0 of 4 from the field with 1 assist.

• 

  Sunday June 9, 2024 at 8:45 pmEDT

  Dončić didn’t let his injuries slow him down and hit a tricky one-legged jumper. He leads the Mavs with 15 points in the first quarter.

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  Sunday June 9, 2024 at 8:45 pmEDT

  Boston is lucky so far

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

• 

  Sunday June 9, 2024 at 8:44 pmEDT

  Celtics fight from 3

  After hitting seven 3-pointers and taking a 17-point lead in the first quarter of Game 1, the Celtics missed their first eight attempts from long range in Game 2 and fell behind after one, 28-25. Every 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 quarter.

• 

  Sunday June 9, 2024 at 8:42 pmEDT

  Kyrie doing it

  Kyrie just has a way of nailing twisty layups that pierce crowds in the street. Two big ones to give Dallas the lead after the first quarter.

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  Sunday June 9, 2024 at 8:38 pmEDT

  letting them play

  So far there has been a very slight hiss on this one. Nine fouls (5 from Dallas, 4 from Boston) have generated 14 free throws in total. And Boston is 10 of 10 from the line.

• 

  Sunday June 9, 2024 at 8:34 pmEDT

  Protecting Luke

  Jrue Holiday has spent the last few possessions on Luka, but commits his second foul. Before Tatum was benched, the Celtics had their All-NBA superstar guarding Lively, so Tatum and Brown could easily switch Doncic’s assignment.

• Sunday June 9, 2024 at 8:31 pmEDT

  Jaylen Brown continues to expand on his NBA Finals highlights

• 

  Sunday June 9, 2024 at 8:30 pmEDT

  Making things easier for Luka

  Dallas is trying to relieve the pressure on Luka by having someone else bring the ball up. You can’t tell he’s hurt when he dances, but Luka is suffering a little.

• 

  Sunday June 9, 2024 at 8:30 pmEDT

  Luka Dončić was very warm during the pre-match. According to him MavericksDončić suffers chest injury and sprained right knee and pain in his left ankle heading into the game, but he is holding up for the Finals.

• 

  Sunday June 9, 2024 at 8:26 pmEDT

  Maxi Kleber fails

  After barely looking to shoot in Game 1, Maxi Kleber doesn’t hesitate to shoot on his first attempt in Game 2. The first was a short, total aerial ball. His second attempt crashed 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.

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  Sunday June 9, 2024 at 8:22 pmEDT

  Mavs lose challenge early

  Not much of a challenge from Jason Kidd. PJ Washington clearly made contact with Derrick White, and now the Mavs have a timeout.