Celtics Hold Off Mavericks Rally For A Crucial 3-0 NBA Finals Lead
Jayson Tatum scored 31 points and Jaylen Brown added 30 as the Boston Celtics fended off the Dallas Mavericks' furious rally for a 106-99 victory, taking a 3-0 lead in the NBA Finals on Wednesday night. Brown finished with eight rebounds and eight assists, while Derrick White contributed 16 points. Boston extended its franchise record with a 10th consecutive playoff win and moved to 7-0 on the road this postseason.
The Celtics can wrap up the series and secure their 18th title, breaking a tie with the Lakers for most NBA championships, with a victory on Friday night in Dallas. None of the previous 156 teams to face a 3-0 deficit has rallied to win an NBA playoff series.
Kristaps Porzingis was ruled out about two hours before the game due to a rare tendon injury in his lower left leg sustained in Game 2. Despite his absence, the Celtics improved to 10-1 in these playoffs without the 7-foot-2 Latvian.
Kyrie Irving scored 35 points for Dallas, and Luka Dončić added 27 before fouling out with 4:12 remaining. The Celtics opened a 91-70 lead at the end of a 20-5 run early in the fourth quarter, but the Mavericks answered with a 22-2 spurt to pull within 93-92 on Irving's jumper with 3:37 left.
Brown made a layup, and White hit a three-pointer before Irving sank a pair of free throws. Tatum dunked, and Brown drilled a long jumper around Dereck Lively II's dunk to put Boston up 102-98. PJ Washington and Irving both missed three-pointers, and Tatum's two free throws with 15 seconds left sealed the win.
Irving's personal losing streak against the Celtics, his former team, reached 13 games.
Eyes on the prize pic.twitter.com/3dX91uhl1l
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) June 13, 2024
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