NBA Finals Game 1 updates

This NBA Finals series will test Jaylen Brown on both ends. He spent most of his time in Game 1 defending Luka Dončić while carrying a heavy offensive burden, as he usually does. He will need to make sharp decisions against a Dallas defense that has been as good as any since early March. The Celtics will need big games from Brown on both ends.

He gave them one in Game 1 with a mighty two-way performance. Brown racked up 21 points, five rebounds, three steals, three blocks and two assists. Beyond the powerful stat line, he delivered timely plays on both ends of the court.

After a nearly perfect first half, the Celtics gave up a 35-14 run spanning the second and third quarters. A Dončić 3-pointer with 4:28 left in the third quarter cut what was once a 29-point Boston lead to 72-64. The crowd went silent, clearly nervous.

Brown steadied the Celtics and then some. He stopped the Dallas run by earning a pair of free throws. He drew Dereck Lively II’s fifth foul to force the impressive rookie big man off the court. Brown denied the high-flying Derrick Jones Jr. at the rim twice on the same possession, then picked up another block moments later. To cap off a 14-0 Celtics run, which came directly after the Mavericks’ big spurt, Brown drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key and celebrated by blowing a kiss to the crowd.

With Dončić as his primary matchup, Brown won’t get much rest in this series. But if he’s this good the rest of the way, he could soon be able to sleep well.