Boston, Dallas to Tip-Off in NBA Finals

Celtics Hold Home-Court Advantage, Mavericks Boast Star Power

Game 1 Set for Thursday Night in Boston

The Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks will face off in the NBA Finals, beginning Thursday night in Boston. The Celtics, who finished with the league's best record at 64-18, will hold home-court advantage throughout the series. The Mavericks, who finished fifth in the Western Conference at 50-32, are the underdogs but have plenty of star power led by Luka Doncic.

Tatum has been Boston's leading scorer in the playoffs, averaging 27.5 points per game. He has also shown a knack for hitting big shots in key moments, which will be crucial against the Mavericks' high-powered offense.

Doncic is one of the most dynamic players in the NBA, and he will be looking to lead the Mavericks to their first NBA championship since 2011. He is averaging 31.8 points, 9.9 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game in the playoffs, and his ability to create for himself and others will be a major challenge for the Celtics' defense.

The Mavericks also have a strong supporting cast, led by Kyrie Irving. Irving is averaging 24.3 points per game in the playoffs, and he will be looking to make a big impact in his first NBA Finals appearance.

The Celtics will be looking to slow down the Doncic-Irving duo and take advantage of their home-court advantage. The Mavericks will be looking to ride the momentum of their Game 7 win over the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Finals and pull off the upset.

Game 1 of the NBA Finals is scheduled to tip off at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday night in Boston. The series is scheduled for a 2-2-1-1-1 format, with the first two games in Boston, the next two games in Dallas, and then the final three games (if necessary) in Boston.