Three turning points for Game 1 of the NBA Finals

Al Horford was an admirable fill-in for Porzingis in the starting lineup, but he’s not the same three-point assassin that Porzingis can be. In the first half alone, Porzingis had 18 points in 13 minutes, shooting 7-for-9 and sinking two deep threes.

2. Boston doubles up Dallas in the quarter with a 10-0 run

In playoff games, there are leads. Then there are big leads. Then there's doubling your opponent's point total 20 minutes into the game.

Leading 48-29, Jaylen Brown hit a three-pointer, then stole the ball from Luka Doncic and went in for a dunk. Two more Mavericks turnovers led to another dunk and another three to lift Boston's lead to 58-29, doubling up Dallas.

The run emphasized why Boston was dominating. The Celtics had 11 three-pointers in the first half to Dallas' three. The Celtics also had seven dunks to the Mavericks' two. Simply put, Boston was making more efficient shots at a higher rate.

3. Jaylen Brown stops the collapse

Late in the third quarter, Dallas had cut Boston’s lead to just eight points, trailing 72-64. Then Brown, who led Boston with 22 points, went out and personally stopped the run.

Brown’s relentless pressure on the Mavericks defense got him two trips to the line off rookie Dereck Lively II. Brown, who was the first member left off the all-defensive team, also took over on defense.

He started asserting himself as a rim protector, sending Mavericks away as Boston closed the quarter still up 20 points.

Brown snuffed out the Mavericks’ last real hope. In the 107-89 win, Brown was the best player on the floor.