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

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

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

There was no early Boston Celtics surge in Game 2. But despite poor 3-point shooting and an outburst by Luka Dončić, Boston enters halftime of Game 2 of the NBA Finals with a 54-point lead. 51.

Dončić, who was listed as questionable early Sunday due to multiple injuries, leads the way with 23 points in a strong effort from the field (9 of 13, 3 of 6 of 3). Kyrie Irving bounced back from a poor shooting performance in Game 1 with 10 points on a 5-of-10 effort from the field.

Meanwhile, the Celtics are struggling from long range with a 3-for-15 effort from beyond the 3-point arc. But it didn’t matter as Boston opened up a 3-point halftime lead. Jrue Holiday leads Boston’s offense with 17 points. Jayson Tatum is having problems from the field (2 of 10, 5 points), but he is making up for it with the way he plays (8 assists). Dallas is playing considerably better than it did in a blowout loss in Game 1. But the Mavericks can’t afford to lead the Celtics from three if they want to avoid a 2-0 series deficit.

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

sports.yahoo.com/live/celtics-vs-mavericks-nba-finals-game-2-score-live-updates-channel-stream-how-to-watch-highlights-225736303.html" data-fetchby="older" data-imagelightboxminimumwidth="700" data-site="sports" data-appid="sports_web" data-region="US" data-article-uuid="1f9321ac-d3eb-45c1-909a-f4a66e8c00cb">

Live31 updates

  • 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.

  • Celtics vs Mavericks NBA Finals Game 2 live updates score.com%2Fimages%2Fdims

    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.

  • 1717983063 996 Celtics vs Mavericks NBA Finals Game 2 live updates score.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr upl

    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.

  • Celtics vs Mavericks NBA Finals Game 2 live updates score.com%2Fimages%2Fdims

    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.

  • Celtics vs Mavericks NBA Finals Game 2 live updates score.com%2Fimages%2Fdims

    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.

  • Celtics vs Mavericks NBA Finals Game 2 live updates score.com%2Fimages%2Fdims

    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.

  • Celtics vs Mavericks NBA Finals Game 2 live updates score

    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.”

  • Celtics vs Mavericks NBA Finals Game 2 live updates score.com%2Fimages%2Fdims

    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.

  • Celtics vs Mavericks NBA Finals Game 2 live updates score.com%2Fimages%2Fdims

    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.

  • Celtics vs Mavericks NBA Finals Game 2 live updates score

    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.

  • 1717983063 996 Celtics vs Mavericks NBA Finals Game 2 live updates score.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr upl

    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

  • Celtics vs Mavericks NBA Finals Game 2 live updates score.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr upl

    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.

  • Celtics vs Mavericks NBA Finals Game 2 live updates score.com%2Fimages%2Fdims

    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.

  • Celtics vs Mavericks NBA Finals Game 2 live updates score.com%2Fimages%2Fdims

    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.

  • Celtics vs Mavericks NBA Finals Game 2 live updates score.com%2Fimages%2Fdims

    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.

  • Jaylen Brown continues to expand on his NBA Finals highlights

  • 1717983063 996 Celtics vs Mavericks NBA Finals Game 2 live updates score.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr upl

    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.

  • Celtics vs Mavericks NBA Finals Game 2 live updates score

    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.

  • Celtics vs Mavericks NBA Finals Game 2 live updates score.com%2Fimages%2Fdims

    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.

  • Celtics vs Mavericks NBA Finals Game 2 live updates score.com%2Fimages%2Fdims

    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.

You may also like