CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics tip off Game 1 of the NBA Finals tonight at TD Garden in Boston.
Led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics are back after losing in the Finals two seasons ago and not making it this year.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks’ Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving have emerged as one of the most formidable duos in the NBA since uniting after a trade last season.
Here’s what to know about tonight’s Game 1, and some odds on how long the series will go, from BetMGM:
Game 1
When: Tonight, 8:30 p.m.
TV: ABC.
Where: TD Garden, Boston.
Odds: Boston -6.5; Over/Under 216.5.
Series length odds
Celtics 4-0: +700
Celtics 4-1: +340
Celtics 4-2: +475
Celtics 4-3: +340
Mavs 4-0: +2200
Mavs 4-1: +1200
Mavs 4-2: +550
Mavs 4-3: +750
What they’re saying
Boston’s Jayson Tatum on this opportunity:
“You think that you’re young, if you’ve been once, you’ll continue to keep going. We realized that last year. We kind of took it for granted at certain moments.
“I’m not thinking about what it would mean for my legacy or anything like that. Just excited to play some basketball ... and go out there and try to get the job done.”
Dallas’ Kyrie Irving on his young teammates:
“These young guys are very hungry. They want a championship. I want a championship. So our feelings are very mutual. But I’ve always reminded them that this is a process. Failure is going to be part of this, too. Get it out your mind that this is about to be a clean sweep or everything is about to feel good throughout this journey and all that.
“I’m just very real, very honest. That’s what’s helped me grow as a leader.”
Dallas’ Luka Doncic on Irving:
“His leadership is amazing. The way he connects us. I think me and Kyrie are the leaders of this team, but he’s the one that’s been in the Finals. He’s the one that won in the Finals. He’s the one that is really leading it.”
Boston’s Jaylen Brown on the Celtics’ experience:
“I think this is a special group. I really do. We’ve been able to go through the experiences of having success but not having success at the same time. I think to solidify the ultimate goal is to get over the hump and win. I think that will add a lot to our legacy. But as of right now, that story is kind of still untold.”
Irving on playing against one of his former teams:
“They’ve gotten tremendously better. They’ve led their team to this point. So I’m proud of them. I’m looking forward to the competition because this is what we’ve all strived for since we were kids, basketball at this level playing against the best of the best.”
- Information from the AP was used in this report.