Benfica dominates Porto 89-73 in Game 1 of Portuguese basketball finals, with Celtics' Queta and Mazzulla watching
Benfica opened the best-of-five Portuguese basketball championship finals with a commanding 89-73 home win over FC Porto on Sunday, moving one step closer to a fifth consecutive title.
Game 1 dominance
Benfica seized control of the Portuguese basketball championship finals with a decisive 89-73 victory over FC Porto at the Pavilhão da Luz in Lisbon. The hosts built an 11-point lead by the end of the first quarter (23-12) and extended their advantage through the second period, prompting multiple timeouts from Porto coach Fernando Sá. The margin held steady through the second half as Benfica cruised to a near-20-point win in the opening game of the series.
We have to give everything we have to win the Championship. For the club, for the fans, for themselves, for everyone. That's what we have to do.
The stakes
Benfica, the defending champion, is pursuing a fifth consecutive league title (pentacampeonato). FC Porto entered the finals seeking its first championship since 2016, a drought of 10 years. Benfica secured home-court advantage for the series after finishing the regular season in first place, and entered the matchup with some degree of favoritism.
This was the fourth Clássico of the season between the two rivals. Benfica had won the Supertaça (91-65) and a regular-season meeting at the Pavilhão da Luz (109-80), while Porto took the most recent encounter (88-72).
NBA presence in the stands
Neemias Queta, the Portuguese international and Boston Celtics center, attended the game alongside Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla. Queta, who previously played for Benfica during the 2017/18 season before moving to the United States, is on vacation after Boston's first-round playoff exit. The Portuguese Basketball Federation shared video of the pair watching from the stands at the Pavilhão Fidelidade.
We feel good, the coach has prepared us very well. We are united as a team. We have to be aggressive and match their intensity.
What comes next
Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday at 19:00, again at the Pavilhão da Luz in Lisbon. Benfica needs two more wins to clinch the championship, while Porto must regroup quickly to avoid falling into a 0-2 hole before the series shifts venues.
