The Dallas Mavericks suffered a defeat in Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics on Sunday evening, with a final score of 105-98 in favor of the Celtics in Massachusetts. Kyrie Irving continued to struggle in the game, finishing with 16 points, two rebounds, and six assists while shooting 7/18 from the field and 0/3 from three-point range in 41 minutes of play.
NBA Champion Kendrick Perkins posted on social media about Irving’s performance, stating “Kyrie hasn’t made it to The Finals yet.” Irving, who is the team’s second-best player, had been performing well in the postseason but has struggled with his shooting in the first two games of the Finals.
Despite Irving’s struggles, All-Star Luka Doncic excelled in Sunday’s loss, recording 32 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists, and four steals while shooting 12/21 from the field and 4/9 from beyond the arc in 42 minutes of play. The Celtics were led by Jrue Holiday, who contributed 26 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block in the game.
With the Mavericks now down 0-2 in the series, the next two games will be played in Dallas. Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday evening, providing an opportunity for the Mavericks to bounce back on their home court.