Yahoo Sports 2024 NBA Finals: Jayson Tatum leads Jaylen Brown, Luka Doncic in Finals MVP odds
Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals is in the books as the Boston Celtics took a 1-0 lead with a 107-89 win over the Dallas Mavericks at home. Dallas had its lowest point total of the playoffs as Boston raced to 17-point lead by the end of the first quarter and kept the Mavericks from coming back in the second half.
Each teams' star players stood out in the first of the best-of-seven series. Dallas' Luka Dončić had a game-high 30 points and led the Mavericks with 10 rebounds. Boston had six players score in double figures including Jaylen Brown (22 points), Jayson Tatum (16) and Kristaps Porziņģis (20) off the bench in his return to playoff action.
'We didn't do our job well': Luka Doncic's NBA Finals debut leaves Dallas guard nearly speechless
Mavericks' machinations: How a $750K tanking decision helped Dallas reach the NBA Finals with Dereck Lively II
Game 1's results shifted the Finals MVP odds, per BetMGM's latest figures. Here's how the top five look ahead of Game 2 on Sunday:
2024 NBA Finals: Top 5 Finals MVP odds
1. Jayson Tatum (+115)
Tatum finished Game 1 with 16 points - tied for his fewest in the playoffs. He made up for it with a game-high 11 rebounds and five assists. If he can shoot better than his 6-of-16 performance in Game 1, he'll be in better position for the award.
2. Jaylen Brown (+300)
Brown was arguably Boston's best player on both ends of the court in Game 1. His 22 points came on 7 for 12 shooting and he added three steals and three blocks on the defensive end while guarding Dončić for much of the game. He will become the favorite sooner than later if he continues to play like that.
3. Luka Dončić (+350)
Dončić's 30 points came on a game-high 26 shot attempts and a playoff-low 40% shooting from the foul line. Game 1 was Dallas' second-biggest margin of defeat in the playoffs behind only a 117-95 loss to Oklahoma City in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals. The Mavericks rattled off two wins in response behind strong performances from their star player. Dončić could repeat that history again here.
4. Kristaps Porziņģis (+650)
Porziņģis started hot coming off the bench and led the team with eight field goals made in Game 1. His six rebounds and three blocks helped on the defensive end as well. More performances like that and a drop-off by Boston's two leading scorers Tatum and Brown could give him better odds.
5. Kyrie Irving (+4000)
Irving had a Game 1 to forget with a playoff-low 31.6% field goal percentage. He went 0-for-5 from three-point range with just two assists and three rebounds. It's a far from his averages in the Western Conference Finals (27.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game). If he and the Mavericks can find more answers on offense, his odds could improve.
2024 NBA Finals: ESPN's Doris Burke makes history in Game 1 of Mavericks vs. Celtics
2024 NBA Finals: Schedule, how to watch
Games | Location | Date/Time/Results | TV/Streaming |
Game 1 | TD Garden, Boston | Boston 107, Dallas 89 | ABC, ESPN+ |
Game 2 | TD Garden, Boston | Sunday, June 9 at 8 p.m. ET | ABC, ESPN+ |
Game 3 | American Airlines Center, Dallas | Wednesday, June 12 at 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC, ESPN+ |
Game 4 | American Airlines Center, Dallas | Friday, June 14 at 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC, ESPN+ |
Game 5(If necessary) | TD Garden, Boston | Monday, June 17 at 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC, ESPN+ |
Game 6(If necessary) | American Airlines Center, Dallas | Thursday, June 20 at 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC, ESPN+ |
Game 7(If necessary) | TD Garden, Boston | Sunday, June 23 at 8 p.m. ET | ABC, ESPN+ |
Looking for local streaming options to catch the NBA Finals? Check out USA TODAY Home Internet for broadband service plans in your area.
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2024 NBA Finals: Jayson Tatum leads odds for Finals MVP
