Starting 5, June 9: NBA Finals Game 2 just hours away – NBA.com

Everything you need to know ahead of tonight’s 8 ET tip. The stakes, the adjustments, the sights and sounds from practice and more.

Jayson Tatum is fired up for Game 2.
And so are we.
Let’s get you ready for tip off.

THE LINEUP 🏀
What’s inside today’s edition?
Game 2 In 1 Minute: Everything you need to know before tonight’s tip-off
Familiar Territory: Dallas faces a 1-0 deficit for the third time this Playoffs
Ready For Response: Boston prepares to get Dallas’ best shot in Game 2
On The Ground: The Thompson Twins break down the matchup and take in media day
Best Of Game 2s: Look back at the top moments from Game 2s of past Finals
BUT FIRST … ⏰
Just hours left until Game 2 of the Finals …

The countdown to Game 2 is live on the NBA App. Lock in for a full day of coverage leading up to Game 2 from TD Garden (8 ET, ABC).
1. GAME 2 IN 1 MINUTE

The Stakes: Will the Celtics win their ninth-straight game to take a 2-0 series lead or will the Mavs remain unbeaten in Game 2s and return to Dallas with the series tied?
Game 2 of the NBA Finals (8 ET, ABC) is just hours away, and we have everything you need to know in one minute.
What It Means
How Each Team Performs in Game 2s

2 Things To Watch For In Game 2
1. Mavs Ball Movement
2. Luka Magic
2. FAMILIAR TERRITORY FOR THE MAVS

“There’s no panic with this group,” said Jason Kidd during Saturday’s media session. “We lost Game 1 a lot of times, and we’ve responded, and so we believe that we can respond in Game 2.”
Been Here Before: Dallas dropped Game 1 against both the Clippers and Thunder earlier this postseason and answered each time with Game 2 wins. Now, in the NBA Finals, they’ll try to do it again.
The key? A better start.
New Stage: Irving is one of just three Mavs to have played in a Finals game before Thursday’s opener, which saw the Celtics jump out to a 37-20 lead in the 1st quarter. But with Game 1 under its belt, Irving believes Dallas will be looser tonight.

Luka Staying Loose: Having fun wasn’t a problem for Luka Doncic on Saturday, who was making mischief at practice and cracking jokes during his press conference – giving a glimpse of how he’s dealt with the pressure of his first Finals.
3. BOSTON PREPARING FOR PUSHBACK

In Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals, the Celtics beat the Warriors by double digits to take a 1-0 series lead. Boston lost Game 2 by 19 points, and Golden State won the series in six games.
In Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals, the Celtics beat the Mavericks by double digits to take a 1-0 series lead.
Entering tonight’s affair – against a Mavs team that’s unbeaten in Game 2s and hasn’t lost back-to-back games all postseason – Boston expects Dallas’ best.
A Complete Effort: By saying ‘we,’ Brown wasn’t just referring to himself and his teammates – he was talking to all of Celtics Nation, especially those attending the game at TD Garden, which he hopes will be even louder tonight than it was for Game 1.

No ‘I’ In Team: Jason Kidd made headlines during Dallas’ media session by saying Brown was the Celtics’ best player, leading to several questions for Brown and Tatum. But the Jays are just focused on winning a ring.
4. ON THE GROUND IN BOSTON

Ausar and Amen Thompson – the Detroit and Houston forwards, respectively, who just completed their rookie seasons – are in Boston as NBA correspondents for Game 2 of the Finals.
Before participating in media day – getting some great advice from Kyrie Irving and talking with fellow rook Dereck Lively II – they sat down with us to discuss this matchup.

Jaylen Brown saw a bit of himself when seeing young players like the Thompson twins and Jabari Smith Jr. at the Finals the past few days.
More Sights & Sounds From Media Day and Practice
5. FINALS GAME 2s BEST MOMENTS
Before tonight’s Game 2, we look back at some of the best moments, shots and performances from Game 2s of past NBA Finals.
Top Game 2 Plays: Before 2000 | Since 2000
1991: The shot and the call of this “spectacular move by Michael Jordan” are famous as MJ pulled off the mid-air hand switch to finish the lefty layup.
2013: LeBron James met Tiago Splitter at the rim to reject his dunk attempt, one of three blocks for LeBron to help Miami even the series.
2009: The chemistry between Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant was on full display, with a simple head nod needed to set up this clutch and-1 against Orlando.
2018: Steph Curry beat the shot clock with this 28-foot turnaround 3 over Kevin Love for his seventh of a Finals record nine 3s in the win.
1990: Clyde Drexler took to the sky as Portland evened the series with a 106-105 OT victory, snapping Detroit’s 14-game home Playoff win streak.
2011: Dirk Nowitzki hit the game-winning layup to cap off a 22-5 Dallas run to tie the series with Miami and change the course of that Finals.
2001: Kobe with the drive, spin and wraparound pass to Shaq for the slam – part of a monster game for O’Neal (28 pts, 20 reb, 9 ast, 8 blk) that has never been matched in Playoff history.
2019: Pascal Siakam got up for this alley-oop dunk from Fred VanVleet. The Raptors lost Game 2, but rallied to win their first NBA title.
1986: Bill Walton with the pick, the pop, the catch, and the bullet pass to a cutting Larry Bird for a wide-open layup. Exquisite execution by the Celtics as they took a 2-0 lead on the Rockets.
2022: It was a Poole Party in Golden State as Jordan Poole pulled up from one step inside half court to beat the 3rd quarter buzzer with a 39-footer.
Boston eyes a 2-0 series lead while Dallas looks to bounce back and take home-court advantage.
Examining Boston's stifling defensive strategy against Luka Doncic and Dallas in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
By switching their matchups in Game 1, the Celtics never gave Luka Doncic or Kyrie Irving space to find their vertical targets.
The Mavericks coach caused a stir at the end of his press conference on Saturday by saying that Jaylen Brown was the Celtics' best player.
Boston eyes a 2-0 series lead while Dallas looks to bounce back and take home-court advantage.
Examining Boston's stifling defensive strategy against Luka Doncic and Dallas in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
By switching their matchups in Game 1, the Celtics never gave Luka Doncic or Kyrie Irving space to find their vertical targets.
The Mavericks coach caused a stir at the end of his press conference on Saturday by saying that Jaylen Brown was the Celtics' best player.
From San Francisco, Sacramento & Salt Lake City to Las Vegas, the NBA is ready to ball out this summer.
The NBA's all-time leading scorer has reportedly agreed to a two-year deal that will keep him with the Lakers.
The 19-year-old son of LeBron James says he 'never really had a thought' about teaming up with his dad.
Kemba Walker, who played for the Hornets, Celtics, Knicks and Mavs in his career, was a 4-time NBA All-Star.
Sotheby’s boasts jerseys from Jayson Tatum and Luka Doncic in one of its most popular auctions of the year.
Entenda tudo sobre o processo de agente livre, incluindo os principais termos, os tipos de agentes livres e as opções de contrato.

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