Mavericks Vs

Kyrie Irving Forces Celtics Timeout With Tough Lefty Finish, Helps Celtics Take 2-0 Lead in NBA Finals

Celtics Beat Mavericks 105-98, Series Heads Back to Dallas

Boston, MA - Kyrie Irving's tough lefty finish with 2:23 remaining in the fourth quarter forced a Dallas Mavericks timeout and helped the Boston Celtics secure a 105-98 victory in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night. The win gives Boston a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, which now shifts to Dallas for Games 3 and 4.

Irving's Impact

Irving, who finished with a team-high 29 points, came up big for the Celtics in the clutch. His driving layup gave Boston a 100-96 lead and forced the Mavericks to call a timeout. Dallas was unable to recover, as the Celtics went on to close out the game.

Balanced Scoring

In addition to Irving's performance, the Celtics received balanced scoring from Jaylen Brown (19 points), Jayson Tatum (18 points), and Al Horford (15 points). The Mavericks were led by Luka Dončić, who had 26 points and nine rebounds, but they struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 22.2% from three-point range.

Series Moves to Dallas

The series now moves to Dallas for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Thursday nights. The Mavericks will be looking to get back in the series, while the Celtics will aim to extend their lead.