Historically, no team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in an NBA playoff series. Last night, the Boston Celtics took a commanding lead in the series against the Dallas Mavericks–powered by Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
Coming into last night’s game, the Dallas Mavericks were in desperate need of a collective effort to pull out a win at home. And while it looked like things were going their way, taking a 22-9 early in the first quarter, they were no match for the Celtics’ firepower. Just as the Celtics have done all season long, they matched every Mavericks’ run with their own and made impactful defensive plays.
Boston’s, Brown and Tatum combined for a record-setting, 61 points that solidified the duo’s elite status . But credit to the defense as well. Jrue Holiday and Derrick White made big-time plays to get stops down the stretch and helped convert Dallas’ turnovers into offense with their elite playmaking.
By the end of the second quarter, the Celtics had erased the Mavericks’ double-digit lead and entered halftime down just one point.
The second half is where things got turned up a notch.
The Celtics have struggled in the third quarter all season long, but last night, Jaylen Brown made sure Game 03 of the Finals would be a different story. Brown came out on fire to start the third! Boston, overall, would go on a 35-19 spurt, fueling their energy heading into the final quarter.
With under five minutes to go in the game, the Celtics were clinging onto a three-point lead just before Brown drove to the basket, and drew a foul against Doncic; his fifth. Dallas would challenge the call but the officials stood on their initial call. The Mavs would be without their star player in the closing minutes of a close game.
Boston closed it out with a 13-6 run and secured the 3-0 advantage.
Now, they’re just one win away…
ONE MORE TO GO #DifferentHere ☘️ pic.twitter.com/tfu56V3t5H
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) June 13, 2024
