In a gritty showdown on Wednesday night, the Boston Celtics weathered a fierce late rally by the Dallas Mavericks to seize a 106-99 victory on the road, putting them one step closer to clinching the NBA Finals.
The game hung in the balance with just 3:37 remaining in the fourth quarter, as the Mavericks closed the gap to a single point before the Celtics rallied, outscoring their opponents 13-7 down the stretch.
Jayson Tatum spearheaded Boston’s offensive charge, pouring in 31 points while also contributing six rebounds and five assists. Jaylen Brown complemented Tatum’s performance with 30 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, including a stellar 24-point display in the second half.
Despite a valiant effort from Luka Doncic, who notched 27 points, six rebounds, and six assists, the Mavericks suffered a setback when he fouled out with over four minutes left on the clock. Kyrie Irving led Dallas with 35 points, though both he and Doncic struggled from the field, shooting a combined 24-for-55.
Boston now stands on the verge of their first championship since 2008 and their 18th overall, which would solidify their status as the most decorated franchise in NBA history.
Game 4 is slated for Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET in Dallas and will be broadcast live on ABC.
The turning point in the game came during the third quarter when the Celtics seized control with a barrage of timely 3-pointers, just as fatigue began to set in for Doncic and Irving. Despite Boston’s surge, the Mavericks mounted an impressive 22-2 run, slashing the deficit to just one point over nearly eight minutes of play. However, Doncic’s untimely departure due to fouls ultimately stalled Dallas’s momentum.
Notably, this was the first time Doncic had fouled out in the entire season, marking a rare occurrence in his postseason career.
