It appears that the Dallas Mavericks will not be able to make a comeback in the NBA Finals. Celtics manage to fend off the Mavericks. The Boston Celtics have now taken a commanding 3-0 lead in the NBA Finals after defeating the Dallas Mavericks 106-99 in Game 3 despite a late-game comeback.
The Celtics managed to continue their winning streak in the playoffs even without Kristaps Porzigis, and they are now just one victory away from claiming their first title since the 2007–08 campaign. With 61 points apiece, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were Boston’s best players. Brown finished with 30 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Tatum finished with 31 points, six rebounds, and five assists.
With only a minute remaining, Brown made a crucial shot to guarantee that Boston held off a Mavericks team that was fighting to stay in the series and prevent further damage. Brown also made important defensive stops on Kyrie Irving.
This massive dunk left everyone speechless making it tonight’s @DraftKings Play of the Game ❗️ pic.twitter.com/PlMhTFadNm
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) June 13, 2024
The Mavericks’ dreams were dashed with Doncic’s departure
Dallas was behind by 21 points at the beginning of the fourth quarter, but they made a heroic effort to rally. They closed the gap to two points with a 22-2 run, but Derrick White’s clutch plays and P.J. Washington’s late offensive foul stopped them.
Luka Doncic ended with 27 points, six rebounds, and six assists before fouling out with four minutes left. Despite leading the league in scoring with 35 points, Kyrie Irving was unable to overcome Boston’s well-rounded offensive and solid defensive play.
The Celtics now own a 7-0 away record in the postseason and have won 10 straight playoff games, a franchise record. The Mavericks will face an almost impossible task in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, which is set to take place in Dallas’ American Airlines Center on Friday. No club in NBA history has ever recovered from a 3-0 hole to win a playoff series.
