2024 NBA Finals: Game 2 was there for the taking, but the Mavs couldn’t take it

BOSTON — It’s the moments the Dallas Mavericks will likely lament from their Game 2 loss to the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals more than the overall performance.

Luka Dončić blamed himself, the turnovers and missed free throws in the 105-98 loss at the TD Garden on Sunday night, but he more than acquitted himself fine in the wake of an injury that had him listed as questionable before the game.

“I think my turnovers and my missed free throws cost us the game,” said Dončić, who scored 32 points with 11 rebounds and 11 assists. “So I’ve got to do way better in those two categories.”

Having 15 team turnovers, with possessions like gold, seems unfathomable. Missing eight free throws — 16 of 24 — when the Celtics shoot 19-o-20 could haunt them all summer.

But more than that, it’s the moments.

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić (77) heads to the locker room after a 105-98 loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday, June 9, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

At least the notable ones, as Kyrie Irving could only smile and try to wash them away. Jrue Holiday and Derrick White pressuring Dončić and P.J. Washington with four minutes left, getting a steal after threatening an eight-second violation, leading to a triple that gave the Celtics some breathing room.

Or, Payton Pritchard taking all the air from the Mavericks at the end of the third quarter when Irving cut the lead to six, hitting a buzzer-beating triple from a step inside half court.

“Yeah, I just chalk that up to just being in Boston,” Irving said. “You know, some of those shots, they go up in the air, and I remember last game Sam Hauser caught it in the corner, and I don’t think he even brought the ball down. It was practically all net.”

Irving hasn’t come alive yet, and he brought up the 2016 Finals when he shook off two bad games in Golden State to put together some of the best ball he’s played in his career, averaging 31 points and four assists in the final five games of that series and shooting 51% from the floor and 47% from 3 as the Cleveland Cavaliers completed an improbable comeback from a…

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Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-06-10 12:46:50

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