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Celtics smack Mavericks in Game 1 as Kristaps Porzingis returns: 7 takeaways

The Celtics started the 2024 NBA Finals with a bang on Thursday, claiming Game 1 with a 107-89 victory over the Mavericks to take a 1-0 lead.

Here are the takeaways.

1. Kristaps Porzingis returned after missing both the conference semis and the conference finals, and his first-half performance may go down as a deeply memorable moment in Boston sports history.

After checking in to a big ovation, Porzingis drew a foul on his first shot attempt and made both free throws.

That seemed to give him a rhythm. He buried two jumpers from the nail.