NBA Finals Game 2 updates: Doncic playing despite 3 injuries

After cruising to a 107-89 Game 1 win behind a huge return to the lineup from Kristaps Porzingis and a balanced scoring effort, the Boston Celtics have their eyes on a 2-0 series lead in the NBA Finals over the Dallas Mavericks.

Luka Doncic, who was listed as questionable heading into tonight’s Game 2, was a scorer in the first game of the series with 30 points, but he produced just one assist and Kyrie Irving was held to just 6-of-16 shooting in a poor offensive effort for Dallas. Aside from a flurry coming out of halftime, when Dallas cut what was once a 29 point lead to single digits, the Celtics controlled the game on both ends, and had six players in double figures.

Teams that win Game 1 of the NBA Finals go on to win the series 70% of the time, and the Celtics will try to move a step closer to adding an 18th banner to the rafters at TD Garden, while the Mavericks can still steal home court advantage with a Game 2 win tonight.

Date: Sunday, June 9

Time: 8 p.m. ET

TV channel: ABC

Streaming: DirecTV Stream, Fubo, YouTube TV

Follow along with Yahoo Sports NBA experts Jason Fischer, Vincent Goodwill and Ben Rohrbach for Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

Live25 updates

Mon, June 10, 2024 at 2:54 AM GMT+2

Jaylen Brown, who’s mic’d up for the night, has some encouragement for his team:

“Whatever you do, do it with confidence,” Brown said. “Embrace the moment. Breathe into it.”

Mon, June 10, 2024 at 2:48 AM GMT+2

Dante Exum gets early minutesDante Exum starts the second quarter for Dallas with Luka and Kyrie both on the floor. Exum only played in garbage time in Game 1, but this three-guard lineup was one of the Mavs’ best during the regular season.

Mon, June 10, 2024 at 2:46 AM GMT+2

Where’s Jayson Tatum?And just like Game 1, Jayson Tatum is scoreless, this time for the entire first quarter. He’s 0-of-4 from the floor with 1 assist.

Mon, June 10, 2024 at 2:45 AM GMT+2

Dončić isn’t letting his injuries slow him down, getting in a tricky one-legged jumper. He leads the Mavs with 15 points in the first quarter.

Mon, June 10, 2024 at 2:45 AM GMT+2

Boston fortunate so farThe Celtics should feel lucky to be down 3. They’re forcing turnovers and the Mavs are missing at the FT line (4-of-9). By the way, Jayson Tatum is 0-4 from the floor

Mon, June 10, 2024 at 2:44 AM GMT+2

Celtics struggling from 3After hitting seven 3-pointers and taking a 17-point lead in the opening quarter of Game 1, the Celtics missed their first eight attempts from distance in Game 2 and trail after one, 28-25. Each member of Boston’s rotation missed at least one 3-point attempt before Al Horford broke the streak with five seconds left in the first frame.

Mon, June 10, 2024 at 2:42 AM GMT+2

Kyrie getting it doneKyrie just has a way of nailing twisting layups that puncture a road crowd. Two big ones to give Dallas the lead after one quarter.

Mon, June 10, 2024 at 2:38 AM GMT+2

Letting them playThere’s been a very light whistle so far in this one. Nine fouls (5 on Dallas, 4 on Boston) ha generated 14 total free throws. And Boston is 10-of-10 from the line.

Mon, June 10, 2024 at 2:34 AM GMT+2

Guarding LukaJrue Holiday has spent the last few possessions on Luka, but he draws his second foul. Before Tatum went to the bench, the Celtics had their All-NBA superstar guarding Lively, so that Tatum and Brown could easily switch the Doncic assignment.

Mon, June 10, 2024 at 2:31 AM GMT+2

Jaylen Brown keeps adding to his NBA Finals highlight reel

Mon, June 10, 2024 at 2:30 AM GMT+2

Making things easier for LukaDallas is trying to alleviate pressure on Luka by having someone else bring up the ball. You can’t tell he’s hurt when he’s dancing, but Luka is laboring a bit.

Mon, June 10, 2024 at 2:30 AM GMT+2

Luka Dončić was seen heavily wrapped up during pregame. Per the Mavericks, Dončić is suffering from a chest injury, right knee sprain and left ankle soreness going into the game, but is toughing it out for the Finals.

Mon, June 10, 2024 at 2:26 AM GMT+2

Maxi Kleber misfiringAfter hardly looking to shoot in Game 1, Maxi Kleber doesn’t hesitate to fire on his first look in Game 2. His first was a total airball, short. His second attempt clanked off the rim on the next possession. The Mavericks need his effectiveness from distance — especially in two-big lineups like this current Dallas group with him and Dereck Lively.

Mon, June 10, 2024 at 2:22 AM GMT+2

Mavs lose challenge earlyNot a terrific challenge from Jason Kidd. P.J. Washington clearly made contact with Derrick White, and now the Mavs are down a timeout.

Mon, June 10, 2024 at 2:18 AM GMT+2

Kyrie getting it done earlyKyrie enjoyed a super long warmup tonight, going through his spinning layup package and bombing threes for almost 30 minutes. Most guys’ on-court work takes about 15. It’s showing so far as he’s been aggressive from the jump for five of Dallas’ first 13 points as the Celtics call timeout with 8:18 remaining in the first.

Mon, June 10, 2024 at 2:16 AM GMT+2

Luka a targetOn several of Boston’s first few half-court possessions, Jayson Tatum has intentionally hunted Luka Doncic on switches. The Celtics want to wear down the Mavs superstar.

Mon, June 10, 2024 at 2:12 AM GMT+2

Boston still doesn’t like KyrieThe boo birds sound even louder for Kyrie Irving tonight than on Thursday, but he’s on the board with his first bucket on a driving layup at 11:11 of the first.

Mon, June 10, 2024 at 2:09 AM GMT+2

Mon, June 10, 2024 at 2:05 AM GMT+2

TD Garden is ready and rowdy for Game 2The crowd in Boston for Game 2 feels a bit more lubed up than in Game 1. When the Jumbotron flashed Kyrie Irving’s quote, “I thought it would be a little louder in here,” fans responded with a loud “Kyrie sucks!” chant — roughly half an hour before tipoff. And once again, Kristaps Porzingis made a WWE-style entrance, roughly five minutes after his teammates took the floor, igniting another ovation. TD Garden is about to pop off.

Mon, June 10, 2024 at 1:45 AM GMT+2

Dan Hurley’s Lakers decision reportedly coming soonElsewhere around the NBA — not that Celtics fans, in particular, are paying too much attention to or care much about what’s happening in L.A. — UConn men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley is reportedly set to decide Monday if he’ll take the Lakers job or head back to the Huskies in search of a three-peat after winning national championships each of the past two seasons.

Yahoo Sports’ Ryan Young had UConn at No. 5 in his way-too-early 2024-25 rankings after the Huskies cut down the nets for a second straight season

UConn coach Dan Hurley plans to make a decision on his future Monday, per @wojespn.

Lakers reportedly made a “compelling case” to him, but he loves what he’s built with the Huskies and is weighing it all now. pic.twitter.com/s1yhcAvTWW

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) June 9, 2024