The Boston Celtics punched their ticket to their 23rd all-time appearance in the NBA Finals on Monday, by sweeping past the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Boston now knows they’ll face the Dallas Mavericks beginning next week at TD Garden in a best of seven for the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Dallas cruised past the top seeded Minnesota Timberwolves in five games, culminating in that Western Conference Championship on Thursday night.
Boston (76-20) is seeking their 18th NBA Title, and first since 2008 when the likes of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen led the C’s past the Los Angeles Lakers in six games. The last appearance in the Finals was in 2022, in a six game defeat at the hands of the Golden State Warriors. Dallas is looking for their second title in their third Finals appearance, with the only championship coming in 2011 over the Miami Heat. The Mavericks (62-37) have been carried by Luka Doncic, and former Boston guard Kyrie Irving. Doncic has averaged 28 points per game, and nearly 10 rebounds and 10 assists to go along with almost two steals per outing in the postseason. Irving has put in 22 points per game, five assists, and over a steal per contest. The tandem you would expect have been the leaders for the Celtics, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Tatum is at 26 points per game, over 10 rebounds, six assists, and one steal while Brown has averaged 25 points, six rebounds, almost three assists, and also one steal. The team is hoping to have center Kristaps Porzingis back from injury. The center who was acquired in the off-season from Washington, averaged 20.1 points and seven rebounds in the regular season before suffering a strained soleus (one of the two calf muscles) during Game 4 of the five game first round win over the Heat and hasn’t played since.
The NBA Finals get going on Thursday night in Boston, where Games 1 and 2 will take place and the Celtics having the homecourt advantage in the series. Boston won both regular season meetings. Here is the full schedule-
G1- Thursday, June 6- Dallas at Boston- 8:30 p.m.
G2- Sunday, June 9 Dallas at Boston- 8 p.m.
G3- Wednesday, June 12 Boston at Dallas- 8:30 p.m.
G4- Friday, June 14 Boston at Dallas- 8:30 p.m.
G5- Monday, June 17 Dallas at Boston*- 8:30 p.m.
G6- Thursday, June 20 Boston at Dallas*- 8:30 p.m.
G7- Sunday, June 23 Dallas at Boston*- 8 p.m.
*- Game 5-7 if necessary
