Sights and sounds from Boston ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals

June 7, 2024 ndowd

Anthony Gharib, ESPNJun 6, 2024, 07:29 PM ET

The 2024 NBA Finals have arrived with Game 1 between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks tipping off on Thursday (8:30 p.m. ET on ABC) at TD Garden.

The Celtics are looking for their 18th NBA championship, while the Mavericks hunt for their second.

Boston finished the regular season 64-18. If the Celtics win the championship, it will mark the first time the team with the highest win percentage in the regular season clinched the title since the Golden State Warriors in 2016-17, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Dallas is the fifth No. 5 seed or worse to reach the NBA Finals since seeding began in 1984. The Mavericks could become the first No. 5 seed to win the title.

From Jaylen Brown practicing a Boston accent to TD Garden supplying color coordinated shirts, the scene in Boston was set hours before Game 1.

‘Stage is set’

TD Garden laid out color coordinated shirts on the seats for pregame spelling out 18, “BOS” and 617, the primary area code for Boston.

The shirts read “You got Boston.”

The stage is set ☘️ pic.twitter.com/kjR8BD2KK3

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) June 6, 2024

You got Boston 😤

These shirts from @ArbellaIns got us HYPED. pic.twitter.com/mGCjNuMlf1

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) June 6, 2024

Brown’s Boston accent

During NBA Finals media availability on Wednesday, the Celtics star took a break from shootaround to practice his Boston accent.

With help from comedian Guillermo Rodriguez of the “Jimmy Kimmel” show, Brown held a box of Lucky Charms cereal while reading a sentence in a local accent.

.@IAMGUILLERMO had JB reading in a Boston accent 😂 pic.twitter.com/LRB5lkQ7NH

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) June 5, 2024

A trip on the ‘Hoop Bus’

A Celtics-themed “Hoop Bus” appeared on Canal Street on Thursday. Fans could take a seat on the bus as it rode around Boston during Game 1. The bus features basketball rims on the front and back. The inside includes a mini hoop and signs that read “Get Up!” and “Louder,” among other things.

The Hoop Bus has arrived in Boston 👀

Come check it out on Canal Street before the game and follow along as it makes stops around the city during The Finals. pic.twitter.com/ed4CBxgEZt

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) June 6, 2024

Timely return to action

Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis had been out since Game 4 of Boston’s first-round series against the Miami Heat with a right calf strain. The center will return in Game 1 against Dallas, his former team.

The one-time All-Star averaged 20.1 points and 7.2 rebounds for the Celtics in the regular season. Boston announced Porzingis’ return with a short video on Wednesday.

He’s baaaaaaaaaaaack 🦄 pic.twitter.com/oQ1551rHWf

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) June 5, 2024

Big Papi reps the C’s

One of the more iconic figures in Boston sports history, former Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, showed support for the Celtics on Tuesday. He wore an Al Horford jersey to the Red Sox game, expressing it was the “perfect size.”

“I love it!” he said.