NBA Finals: Celtics Sizzle, Move One Win Away From Championship Crown

DALLAS — During a critical moment in the fourth quarter of Game 3 of the NBA Finals last night, it seemed like the Boston Celtics might fall victim to their old habits.

Despite holding a significant 21-point lead with just 10 minutes remaining, the Dallas Mavericks staged a remarkable comeback, going on a 22-2 run that jeopardized Boston’s lead and the series outlook.

However, just when the situation seemed dire, the Celtics changed the narrative by stifling Dallas to only one field goal over a five-minute stretch. This effort led them to secure a 106-99 win, putting them ahead 3-0 in the series.

With one more victory, Boston will secure their historic 18th NBA championship, which they can potentially achieve in Game 4 at the American Airlines Center on Friday.

Jaylen Brown, who contributed 30 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists in 41 minutes, remarked on the team’s growth: “Experience is the best teacher. Throughout the year, we’ve been criticized for our past, but this is a new team. We’ve learned from our past shortcomings and applied those lessons in crucial moments like this. We rose to the occasion, found solutions, and emerged victorious.”

Boston appeared to have control of the game much earlier, responding to a 25-12 surge by the Mavericks in the opening seven minutes. This run saw Kyrie Irving, who scored 35 points after a combined 28 points in the previous two games in Boston, finding his rhythm for the first time in the series. The Celtics then went on a dominant 79-45 run over the following 29 minutes, establishing a commanding 91-70 lead with 11:07 left on the clock.

Despite Kristaps Porzingis being sidelined for Game 3 and uncertain for future games due to a unique leg injury sustained in Game 2, Dallas seemed headed for another defeat at that point. However, the game took a turn as Boston went cold, going 1-for-11 from the field with three turnovers in the following 7:57. Dallas capitalized on these errors, closing the gap to 93-92 on an Irving layup with 3:37 to play, even though they were missing Luka Doncic, who had fouled out moments earlier.

As momentum shifted back and forth, Boston managed to hold onto their lead with key plays like a Jayson Tatum miss turned into a Jaylen Brown putback followed by a Derrick White 3-pointer and a Tatum dunk, extending their lead to six points.

The Celtics, known for their resilience, improved to a remarkable 7-0 on the road in these playoffs. They received contributions from various players, including Xavier Tillman, who made an impact in his 11 minutes on the court, and Sam Hauser, who had a strong shooting performance off the bench.

Tatum bounced back from a tough shooting night in Game 2 with 31 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Brown added 30 points. The team is now on the verge of surpassing the Los Angeles Lakers for the most all-time league titles.

Despite their lead in the series, the Celtics are not complacent, drawing on their experience of being down 3-0 in the Eastern Conference finals last year. Tatum emphasized the team’s focus on the present task and their commitment to seeing it through, emphasizing their motto: “However long it takes.”