Celtics take down the Dallas Mavericks 107-89 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Jaylen Brown was getting it done on both ends. He finished with 22 points, 3 steals and 3 blocks. Kristaps Porzingis was the difference, though, scoring 20 points in 21 minutes and also having 3 blocks.
Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis electrified TD Garden on Thursday, and oddsmakers have taken notice.
The Boston Celtics teammates and building mates dominated both ends of the floor in the team's 107-89 Game 1 win over the Dallas Mavericks to kick off the 2024 NBA Finals. Brown finished with a team-high 22 points to go along with six rebounds, three steals and three blocks. Porzingis erupted off the bench in his first game action in 38 days, scoring 20 points and grabbing six boards in just 21 minutes.
On top of filling the stat sheet, both players provided exciting highlights on both ends of the floor.
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It's just one game, as the Celtics are well aware of after dropping Game 2s at home to the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers in their first two playoff series. Still, the Celtics' impressive Game 1 has already created a shift in NBA Finals MVP odds.
Brown has cut his odds to win the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Award in half, while Porzingis has shed dark-horse status after his spectacular return.
NBA
Here is a look at how the Finals MVP odds changed after Game 1, courtesy of Fanatics Sportsbook.
NBA Finals MVP odds before the series
- Jayson Tatum, Celtics: -120
- Luka Doncic, Mavericks: +200
- Jaylen Brown, Celtics: +600
- Kyrie Irving, Mavericks: +2000
- Derrick White, Celtics: +3500
- Kristaps Porzingis, Celtics: +4000
- Jrue Holiday, Celtics: +5000
NBA Finals MVP odds after Game 1
- Jayson Tatum, Celtics: +110
- Jaylen Brown, Celtics: +270
- Luka Doncic, Mavericks: +350
- Kristaps Porzingis, Celtics: +550
- Kyrie Irving, Mavericks: +4000
- Derrick White, Celtics: +7000
- Jrue Holiday, Celtics: +12000
Jayson Tatum is still the favorite to win the award. He didn't shoot the ball well in Game 1 and tied a 2024 playoff low of 16 points, but he hauled in a game-high 11 rebounds and contributed to the Celtics' defensive dominance.
On the other end, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving saw their Finals MVP odds drop significantly. Doncic's number is still close in line with Dallas' overall series odds (+320) after putting up 30 points and a career playoff-low one assist in Game 1. Irving's odds ballooned to +4000, as he went just 6-for-19 from the floor and 0-for-5 from 3-point range for a 12-point outing.
With the Game 1 victory, the Celtics are now -420 favorites to raise Banner 18.
