Celtics Extend Lead To 67 46 At Halftime

Celtics Dominate Mavericks in Game 5 of NBA Finals

Celtics Extend Lead to 67-46 at Halftime

The Boston Celtics put on a dominant performance in the first half of Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday, taking a commanding 67-46 lead over the Dallas Mavericks at halftime.

Celtics Surge in First Quarter

The Celtics closed out the first quarter on a 9-0 run, extending their lead to 31-13. Jayson Tatum led the charge with 10 points in the quarter, while Marcus Smart added 9 points and Jaylen Brown chipped in with 8 points.

Mavericks Struggle to Keep Pace

The Mavericks struggled to keep up with the Celtics' pace and intensity in the first half. Luka Doncic, Dallas' leading scorer, was held to just 10 points on 4-of-13 shooting from the field. The Mavericks also shot a dismal 35.8% from the field in the first half, compared to the Celtics' 55.6% shooting.

Celtics Extend Lead in Third Quarter

The Celtics continued to build on their lead in the third quarter, outscoring the Mavericks 32-24. Tatum added another 15 points in the quarter, while Brown and Smart each added 8 points. The Mavericks remained unable to find a rhythm offensively, shooting just 38.9% from the field in the third quarter.

Conclusion

The Celtics' dominance in the first half of Game 5 has put the Mavericks on the brink of elimination. With the Celtics holding a 15-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, it seems highly likely that Boston will take a commanding 3-0 lead in the series. The Mavericks will need to find a way to turn things around quickly in Game 6 if they have any hope of extending the series.