The 2024 NBA Finals are coming.
of Boston Celtics Returning to the finals Golden State Warriors The Celtics were among the top contenders in the Eastern Conference for most of the 2022 season, finishing with an NBA-best record of 64-18. New York Knicks On the east side.
This left many wondering if the Celtics were ready to make a playoff run, and to many neutral observers, Boston’s path to the Finals was a little easier than expected. Boston faced the Miami Heat in the first round, but Miami struggled against Boston due to missing Jimmy Butler, who was sidelined with a sprained MCL.
and, Cleveland CavaliersBoston began the series against the Celtics without rim protector Jarrett Allen, who missed the entire series with a fractured rib. Coupled with a knee injury to Donovan Mitchell, Boston won the series 4-1 and advanced to face the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The final two games of the series were without guard Tyrese Haliburton, who played in the conference finals with a groin injury that limited him in the first two games and then the final two.
Now they Dallas MavericksThe NBA Finals came thanks to Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic’s incredible playoff performances. Doncic may be playing the best basketball on the planet right now, and he easily earned the top spot in this series’ ranking of the top 15 players. He’s nearly recorded a triple-double in the playoffs, averaging 28.8 points, 9.6 rebounds and 8.8 assists in 17 playoff games for Dallas. His addition leaves the Mavericks with their best player, but he will be playing with only one healthy leg due to a knee sprain.
They could also be a problem for the Celtics, given their length and athleticism. As mentioned above, Boston had a somewhat easier road to the Finals, but that will change after Thursday night. Along with Doncic and Irving, the Mavericks have a few other guys, including P.J. Washington and Derrick Jones Jr., who can give Boston’s offense a hard time.
Washington has long arms and will likely be facing off against Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum for much of the series, and Jones Jr. is one of the league’s best athletes and can cause problems both near the rim and behind the arc.
Dallas can rely on the duo of Derek Lively II and Daniel Gafford. The rookie Lively is 7-foot-1 with a big wingspan and has been Dallas’ third-best player this season. Gafford is another resilient rim protector who can disrupt shots and harass scorers near the Boston basket.
Dallas will need these players to perform well to win, but anything can happen in the NBA Finals.
It all kicks off this Thursday, here’s how to watch.
2024 NBA Finals Schedule
- Game 1: Boston 107, Dallas 89 (Boston leads the series 1-0)
- Game 2: Dallas vs Boston | Sunday, June 9 | 8:00 PM ET | ABC/ESPN+
- Game 3: Boston vs. Dallas | Wednesday, June 12 | 8:30 PM ET | ABC/ESPN+
- Game 4: Boston vs. Dallas | Friday, June 14 | 8:30 PM ET | ABC/ESPN+
- Game 5: Dallas vs Boston | Monday, June 17 | 8:30 PM ET | ABC/ESPN+*
- Game 6: Boston vs. Dallas | Thursday, June 20 | 8:30 PM ET | ABC/ESPN+*
- Game 7: Dallas vs Boston | Sunday, June 23 | 8:00 PM ET | ABC/ESPN+*
*If necessary
