Jayson Tatum (R) of the Boston Celtics shoots in Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, June 12, 2024. /CFP
The Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks 106-99 in Game 3 of the NBA Finals at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, on Wednesday, extending their lead to 3-0 in the series.
The Celtics were sitting on a 21-point lead (91-70) in the fourth quarter before Dallas went on a 22-2 run in less than seven minutes. After Kyrie Irving pulled up to make a jumper with 3:31 left, the Mavericks trailed by only one point (93-92).
That was the closest the home team came to getting back into the series, and their No. 1 ace Luka Doncic fouled out with just over four minutes to go. Dallas' defense then let the hosts down again by allowing the Celtics to score seven points in the ensuing 74 seconds.
The tactic of having Dereck Lively II switch out in guarding screen plays cost the Mavericks their best rim protection. Meanwhile, their defensive rotations were chaotic enough to leave Boston's shooters open outside the 3-point line.
Jaylen Brown (#7) of the Boston Celtics dunks in Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, June 12, 2024. /CFP
In the end Derrick White's triple, Jaylen Brown's putback and Jayson Tatum's dunk ended the Mavericks' final hopes of coming back. Their last three misses from downtown by Irving, P.J. Washington and Tim Hardway Jr. were more like failed desperation attempts.
Tatum and Brown scored 31 and 30 points, respectively, with Brown pouring in 24 in the second half, including 15 in the third quarter when the Celtics outscored the Mavericks 35-19. Tatum contributed 20 points in the first half, holding his side together and helping them trailed by only one point (51-50) at the break.
Though only White reached double-digit points among the other Celtics, the team's offensive system of having multiple slashers distract the opposing side's defense with constant penetrations off the dribble to set up open buckets continued to work with precision against the Mavericks. Doncic, Irving and Hardway Jr. all served as defensive weak links for the Celtics to attack.
Kyrie Irving (#11) of the Dallas Mavericks shoots in Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, June 12, 2024. /CFP
Irving had a chance to provide salvation for both himself and the Mavericks with a game-high 35 points including four triples, but his efforts in the final three minutes fell short partly because the Celtics focused most of their defensive resources on him in Doncic's absence.
Game 4 will also be held at the American Airlines Center on Friday. No team in NBA history has ever come back to win a playoff series after falling behind 3-0.