The 2024 NBA Finals tip off Thursday night at 8:30 p.m. with a multitude of key storylines to watch between the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics.
Which duo will make the bigger impact: Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown or Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving? How much of a difference will Kristaps Porzingis be for Boston? Who holds the coaching edge between Jason Kidd and Joe Mazzulla?
All of that will be answered starting in Game 1. Follow along for updates before, during and after the game.
How to watch the NBA Finals
Game 1: Mavericks at Celtics, Thursday, June 6 (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 2: Mavericks at Celtics, Sunday, June 9 (8 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 3: Celtics at Mavericks, Wednesday, June 12 (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 4: Celtics at Mavericks, Friday, June 14 (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 5: Mavericks at Celtics, Monday, June 17 (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)*
Game 6:Celtics at Mavericks, Thursday, June 20 (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)*
Game 7:Mavericks at Celtics, Sunday, June 23 (8 p.m. ET, ABC)*
LeBron James calls Kyrie Irving 'the ultimate wild card'
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, who along with Irving brought a championship back to Cleveland in 2016, said the guard is unlike any teammate he’s had in his career.
“To have a guy like Kyrie Irving as the ultimate wild card,” James said on his“Mind The Game” podcast this week. “That’s like having a ‘draw four’ in your hand every time someone deals you cards in Uno.”
X factor for Boston will be...
Greg Rosenstein
Jrue Holiday, a veteran acquired last offseason in a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers. Boston gave up a lot to get him — Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams and two first-round picks — but he’s been worth it. Holiday, who won an NBA title with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, is averaging 12.7 points and 4.6 assists in the playoffs while playing his typical lockdown defense. How Holiday guards Irving could be the difference in whether the Celtics claim the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
How many titles do the Celtics and Mavericks have?
Greg Rosenstein
The Boston Celtics are tied for first all-time in NBA championships with 17. NBA Hall of Famer Bill Russell himself claimed 11 between 1957 and 1969.
The Mavericks have only one title: 2011 when Dirk Nowitzki and (now coach) Jason Kidd led Dallas to a 4-2 series win over the Miami Heat.
Jason Kidd on verge of history
Joshua Kinberg
When the NBA finals between the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics tip off on Thursday night, Mavericks head coach, Jason Kidd, has a chance to join an elite club of NBA champions who have won as both player and head coach. What’s even more incredible is that Kidd might achieve this with the same team.
In 2011, Jason Kidd was the starting point guard for the Dallas Mavericks during their championship run. Thirteen years later in 2024, Kidd is leading his team from the sidelines as head coach and hopes to bring the Larry O’Brien trophy back to Dallas.
According toNBA.comonly 5 others have won championships as a player and head coach for the same team. That list includes some legendary names — Bill Russell (Celtics), Tom Heinsohn (Celtics), KC Jones (Celtics), Pat Riley (Lakers) and Billy Cunningham (Sixers).
Jason Kidd is now four wins away from adding his name to this list.
Who were the last 5 NBA champions?
Greg Rosenstein
The 2023-24 season will be the sixth straight season without a repeat NBA Finals winning team.
- 2022-23: Denver Nuggets (def. Miami Heat)
- 2021-22: Golden State Warriors (def. Boston Celtics)
- 2020-21: Milwaukee Bucks (def. Phoenix Suns)
- 2019-20: Los Angeles Lakers (def. Miami Heat)
- 2018-19: Toronto Raptors (def. Golden State Warriors)
Celtics boast a historically great offense
Greg Rosenstein
The Celtics' 123.2 offensive ratingis not only the best in the NBA this season, it's the best in NBA history. Even crazier is the next to teams — the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder — also happened this season.
Tatum has been the catalyst all season for Boston, particularly in the postseason. He leads the team in points (26), rebounds (10.4) and assists (5.9) per game. Brown is just a notch behind him statistically with averages of 25 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists a contest. He earned Eastern Conference Finals MVP following Boston’s sweep of the Indiana Pacers after continually making big plays either as a scorer or facilitator.
