The Boston Celtics, powered by their dynamic duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, edged out the Dallas Mavericks 106-99 on Wednesday, seizing a commanding 3-0 lead in the NBA Finals.
Jayson Tatum emerged from his recent scoring slump to deliver a stellar 31-point performance, while Jaylen Brown added 30 points, including a blistering 15 in the third quarter. This critical win places the Celtics just one victory away from securing their 18th NBA championship, which would break their tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most titles in league history. Boston can clinch the series in Game 4, set for Friday in Dallas.
“We are not relaxing or anything like that,” Tatum emphasized after the game. “Our motto is ‘however long it takes.’ Nobody is trying to relax at all.”
Despite the daunting 3-0 deficit, the Mavericks fought valiantly to avoid a sweep. Facing a 21-point deficit in the fourth quarter, Dallas mounted a furious comeback. Kyrie Irving’s jump shot with 3:37 remaining cut the lead to one point.
However, their rally was hampered by Luka Doncic fouling out with 4:12 left in the game. Doncic’s disqualification came after two controversial fouls in quick succession, decisions that Mavericks coach Jason Kidd unsuccessfully challenged.
With Doncic sidelined, the Mavericks continued to push. Irving’s dish to Dereck Lively for a dunk pulled Dallas within two points, but Boston responded with clutch baskets from Brown and steady free-throw shooting by Derrick White and Tatum to secure the win.
“That was a big-time win for us, and I’m proud of how we played today,” Brown said. “They had some momentum, but we kept our poise and found a way to win.”
Irving led Dallas with 35 points, shaking off sub-par performances from the first two games, while Doncic contributed 27 points, six rebounds, and six assists before fouling out for only the third time in his career. Doncic expressed frustration with the officiating post-game.
“We couldn’t play physical,” Doncic remarked. “I don’t want to say nothing … six fouls in the NBA Finals – c’mon man. (Do) better than that.”
Despite the historical odds against them—no team has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit in the NBA playoffs—Doncic remained defiant. “It’s not over till it’s over,” he declared. “We’ve got to stay together.”
The Celtics’ relentless performance has kept them unbeaten on the road this postseason, marking their 10th straight playoff victory. As they look to close out the series, the Mavericks will need to summon every ounce of resolve to extend their season and make a historic comeback.
