Mavericks vs. Celtics final score, results: Celtics overcome Luka Doncic's triple-double to take 2-0 Finals lead

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Gilbert McGregor
Brendan OSullivan
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Jrue Holiday 060924
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Known more for his defense, Jrue Holiday isn't normally the top scorer in any game, but he led the Celtics to a big Game 2 win on Sunday.

The veteran guard scored a team-high 26 points on 11-of-14 shooting from the field as Boston topped Dallas 105-98 to take a 2-0 series lead. Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Jayson Tatum chipped in with 21, 18, and 18 points, respectively.

Tatum notably struggled from the field, shooting just 6-of-22 after Jason Kidd said Brown is Boston's best player. Tatum did, however, tally 12 assists and nine rebounds.

Luka Doncic shook off a chest injury and scored 23 points in the first half. He finished with 32 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists, and four steals, but his eight turnovers highlight just how suffocating Boston's defense was all night. All five Dallas starters scored in double figures, but it wasn't enough.

Kyrie Irving shot just 7-of-18 from the field, and the Mavericks made just 16-of-24 free throws and 6-of-26 from deep The series shifts to Dallas for Games 3 and 4, where the Mavericks will be desperate for a win.

The Sporting News tracked live score updates, highlights, and news throughout Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Finals.

STREAM: Watch the NBA Finals live on Sling TV

Mavericks vs. Celtics score

 1Q2Q3Q4QFinal
Mavericks2823232498
Celtics25292922105

Mavericks vs. Celtics live updates, results, highlights from Game 2 in 2024 NBA Finals

Final: Celtics 105, Mavericks 98

10:28 p.m.: Doncic missed a 3-pointer and Mavs decided not to foul down seven. Game over, Celtics win 105-98. 

10:26 p.m.: BLOCK BY WHITE! The guard sends Washington's dunk attempt away to keep the Mavs from cutting the deficit to three points. 

10:25 p.m.: Doncic and-1! It's a five point game with a minute remaining. Celtics lead 103-98.

10:21 p.m.: Doncic scored 23 first half points. He's scored six in the second half.

10:19 p.m.: Very sloppy sequence there from the Mavs. Couldn't get the ball past half court, turning it over on the pass. White then hits back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Celtics up 103-89 with 3:19 remaining.

10:14 p.m.: Timeout Celtics with 4:40 remaining. Boston leads 97-89.

10:12 p.m.: Porzingis has a slight limp after falling. He's staying in the game, but something to keep an eye on.

10:06 p.m.: Irving trying to keep the Mavs in the game. First he creates an easy dunk for Gafford, then he gets a bucket to cut the deficit to seven, 90-83.

10:03 p.m.: All momentum is with Boston in the fourth quarter. Celtics lead 88-78 with 9:17 remaining.

End of third quarter: Celtics 83, Mavericks 74

9:56 p.m.: BOOM! Payton Pritchard wow. His first FG of the finals is a loud and deep one. He beats the buzzer with a near half court shot to put Celtics up 83-74 after the third quarter.

9:55 p.m.: Irving gets a much-needed trip to the FT line after struggling on offense since the first quarter.

9:52 p.m.: Not looking good for the Mavs here. Celtics are beginning to roll offensively as they lead by 13.

9:48 p.m.: Tatum hasn't done much scoring, but he's up to 10 assists with his latest dime to Holiday, who has 23 points on 10 of 12 shooting.

9:47 p.m.: Boston is 4 of 24 from 3 and still leads 73-63 with 3:27 remaining in the third quarter. Mavs are just 4 of 20 themselves.

9:45 p.m.: Celtics have their largest lead of the night at six points: 69-63.

9:39 p.m.: Tatum picks up another and-1 but missed the FT, the first for Boston tonight. Celtics lead 67-63.

9:34 p.m.: Wow, what a jam by Lively! Posterizes White on the pick and roll. Celtics lead 63-61.

9:30 p.m.: Holiday always seems to make the right play. He grabbed an offensive rebound and dished to Tatum for the and-1. Irving picks up his third foul.

9:29 p.m.: Good start to the half for the Mavs as they retake the lead 55-54 on a 4-0 run.

Halftime: Celtics 54, Mavericks 51

9:11 p.m.: Celtics shot just 3 of 15 from 3 in the first half, yet still lead 54-51 after the first quarter. Celtics were 13 of 13 from the FT line, while Doncic scored 23 points.

9:07 p.m.: Doncic, my goodness. He's up to 23 points after a 3.

9:06 p.m.: Tatum has struggled big time, scoring just two points on 1 of 8 shooting. Holiday is the leading scorer for Boston at 14 points.

9:04 p.m.: Celtics have taken a 44-42 lead with under four minutes to play.

8:59 p.m.: Great play by Jones to pick off a pass and convert the and-1 on the fastbreak. Tatum picks up his second foul with under five left in the half.

8:57 p.m.: Mavs continue to struggle on the FT line. Doncic misses his third of the game.

8:51 p.m.: White nails a 3 to give the Celtics a 36-35 lead with eight minutes to play in the half.

8:49 p.m.: Have to wonder if the Celtics start to double Doncic. He's up to 20 points on 8 of 12 shooting. Mavs lead 35-33.

8:47 p.m.: Yeah, Doncic is on a mission tonight. He's up to 18 points just 90 seconds into the second quarter.

End of first quarter: Mavericks 28, Celtics 25

8:42 p.m.: Mavs end the quarter shooting 4 of 9 from the FT line to Boston's perfect 10 of 10. Cletics are 1 of 9 from 3.

8:40 p.m.: Mavs are struggling at the foul line, shooting just 2 of 6, while the Celtics are shooting 0 of 8 from 3-point land.

8:38 p.m.: Irving picked up his secind foul in the first quarter. Here's how he reacted to the "Kyrie sucks" chants.

8:32 p.m.: Doncic is toughing out his injury. He's not moving as well as he's been, but that hasn't slowed his scoring. He has 13 with 2:20 remaining in the first.

8:30 p.m.: Doncic knocks down a fading jumper for the team's first points since 8:19., nearly a four-minute drought.

8:28 p.m.: Doncic misses both free throws and the Dallas scoring drought surpasses three minutes.

8:26 p.m.: Porzingis already causing problems for the Mavs. He draws another Mavs foul, and blocks a shot on the other end.

8:25 p.m.: Brown with an emphatic slam on the fastbreak! Celtics down 13-10 now.

8:19 p.m.: Mavs are challenging a foul call on Washington, but the ruling is unsuccessful.

8:15 p.m.: Celtics' timeout after a deep Irving two-pointer. Mavs lead 13-6 with 8:18 to go in the first.

8:14 p.m.: Doncic is already 3-for-4 from the field with six of the Mavs' 11 points.

8:11 p.m.: Mavs start 3-for-3 from the field, including a wing 3-pointer from Washington.

8:10 p.m.: Doncic knocks down the mid-ranged fade to get things started. Mavericks need to set the tone early.

8:03 p.m.: Here we go! Game 2 is about to begin.

7:49 p.m.: Maverick's starting five:

  • Luka Doncic
  • Kyrie Irving
  • Derrick Jones Jr.
  • P.J. Washington Jr.
  • Daniel Gafford

7:45 p.m.: Celtics' starting five:

  • Jrue Holiday
  • Derrick White
  • Jaylen Brown
  • Jayson Tatum
  • Al Horford

7:08 p.m.: Doncic will plsy tonight after initial reports downgraded him to questionable.

MORE: Biggest takeaways from Game 1 of the NBA Finals

Mavericks vs. Celtics start time

  • Date: Sunday, June 9
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET

Mavericks vs. Celtics will tip off around 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 9. The game will be played at TD Garden in Boston.

How to watch Mavericks vs. Celtics

  • TV channel: ABC
  • Live stream: Sling

Mavericks vs. Celtics will air on ABC in the United States and Sportsnet in Canada. U.S. viewers can also stream the game on Sling.

Sling is the home for sports fans, offering various channels. You can always cheer for your favorite teams on channels like ESPN, TBS, TNT, NFL Network, FS1, and more.

MORE: Kristaps Porzingis dazzles in return from injury

Mavericks vs. Celtics odds for Game 2

Here are the latest Mavericks-Celtics odds for Game 2, courtesy of BetMGM, an authorized gaming operator of the NBA.

The Celtics are favored by 6.5 and are -105 against the moneyline. A -105 moneyline means a $100 bet would pay out $195.24.

Celtics lead 1-0MavericksCeltics
Spread+7.5 (-115)-7.5 (-105)
Moneyline+225-275
O/U totalO 214.5 (-115)U 214.5 (-105)

Check out BetMGM to see the latest NBA Finals odds including updated odds to win the series,

BETMGM, AN AUTHORIZED GAMING OPERATOR OF THE NBA.

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NBA Finals schedule 2024

Games 2, 5 and 7 are scheduled to be played at TD Garden in Boston. The series will shift to the American Airlines Center in Dallas for Games 3, 4 and 6.

(1) Celtics vs. (5) Mavericks — Bostons leads series 1-0

DateGameTime (ET)TV/Live stream
June 6Celtics 107, Mavericks 898:30 p.m.ABC, Sling
June 9Celtics 105, Mavericks 988 p.m.ABC, Sling
June 12Game 38:30 p.m.ABC, Sling
June 14Game 48:30 p.m.ABC, Sling
June 17Game 5*8:30 p.m.ABC, Sling
June 20Game 6*8:30 p.m.ABC, Sling
June 23Game 7*8 p.m.ABC, Sling

*If necessary

Author(s)
Gilbert McGregor Photo
Gilbert McGregor

Gilbert McGregor is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News.

Brendan OSullivan Photo
Brendan OSullivan

Brendan O'Sullivan is an editorial intern for Sporting News.