Basketball On The Internet.

THE Boston Celtics ran away from the rest of the NBA during the regular season, securing the best record and nailing down home court advantage for the duration of the playoffs. They then ran away again with all three playoff series leading up to the Finals, finishing up sweeping the Semifinal series with Indiana Pacers, reports BOB CRAVEN from the US.

They then kept right on going and powered past the Dallas Mavericks by 18 points in Game 1 of the Finals.

Kristaps Porzingis, the versatile 223cm Latvian big man for the Celtics, was playing his first game in almost two months after suffering a calf injury, and he played a major role in the big win. 

He came back to haunt his former team with a monster game, jumpstarting the blowout by scoring 20 points off the bench in only 21 minutes of action, and adding six rebounds and three blocks. 

In all, six players scored in double figures for the Celtics who led by 29 points in the first half.  Dallas cut the lead to eight heading into the fourth quarter but could get no closer.

Luka Doncic led Dallas with 30, but its other star, Kyrie Irving, struggled throughout, scoring only 12 points on 6-of-19 shooting. 

Irving, a former Celtic, was booed loudly and extensively when he was introduced before the game, and that continued throughout whenever he touched the ball.

Porzingis' presence in the paint kept Irving and Doncic quiet. The duo, who had devasted opponents this postseason in the pick-and-roll by garnering 78 dunks or layups off their passes, managed only one such play in Game 1.

In the WNBA, Ezi Magbegor and the Seattle Storm continue to make noise and news. 

Hours after signing a new contract extension, Magbegor led the Storm with a big game in an 80-62 win over the Phoenix Mercury. 

She celebrated the new contract by scoring 21 points and adding nine rebounds, two assists, two steals, and three blocks. 

Three nights later, she had another big game in a 78-65 win over the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces. 

She again filled the stat book with 14 points, 15 boards, five assists, two steals, and three more blocks (she leads the league in blocks.) 

After a terrible year last year when they finished near the bottom of the league, the Storm are currently tied with the Minnesota Lynx for the best record in the Western Conference at 7-3. 

For her part, Magbegor is looking like making the All-WNBA team and the WNBA All-Defensive team again this season.