3 Biggest Takeaways From Game 1 of the NBA Finals

2. Three Point Shooting: Advantage Celtics

Earlier this week, I wrote about how the Celtics would lose this series if it became a three-point contest between Jayson Tatum and Kyrie Irving.

Putting those two players aside for a second, Game 1 was all about three-point shooting, and it was a huge advantage to the Celtics, who were +27 from behind the three-point line.

The Celtics shot better than 40% from downtown in the first half, while the Mavericks were just 3/13 (.230). Overall, Boston made 16 of 42 from deep (38%) and Dallas was 7-27 (25.9%).

Doncic, who led all players with 30 points, needed 12 three-pointers to make four of them. The rest of the team was 3-15. PJ Washington Jr missed all three of his three-point attempts. Derrick Lively went 0-2. Derrick Jones was 1-2.

Seven different Celtics made multiple three-pointers. Sam Hauser was 2-2, Jrue Holiday and Al Horford were each 2-5. Derrick White hit three, though his eight attempts were the most on the team.

As far as the Dukies go, Tatum was okay from distance, shooting 3-7, though he was inefficient overall on the night (6-16 for 16 points in 42 minutes). He picked up a double-double with 11 rebounds and dished out five assists, though he did turn the ball over a game-high six times.

Irving on the other hand...