DALLAS — The Boston Celtics survived a furious comeback by the Dallas Mavericks in Game 3 of the 2024 NBA Finals, holding on for a 106-99 victory to take a commanding 3-0 series lead. Despite nearly squandering a 21-point advantage in the fourth quarter, the Celtics are now on the brink of their record 18th NBA championship.
Boston initially struggled after Kristaps Porzingis was sidelined with an injury, allowing Dallas to jump to a 22-9 lead. However, the Celtics rallied, gradually closing the gap and ultimately taking control with a barrage of 3-pointers in the third quarter.
With a 91-70 lead early in the fourth, Boston seemed poised for an easy win. Yet, the Mavericks mounted a dramatic 22-2 run, fueled by Luka Dončić, who finished with 27 points before fouling out with 4:12 remaining. Without Dončić, Dallas couldn’t complete the comeback.
Kyrie Irving led all scorers with 35 points for Boston, while Jayson Tatum (31 points) and Jaylen Brown (30 points) provided crucial contributions. The Mavericks now face the monumental task of trying to become the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3-0 series deficit.
Game 4 is scheduled for Friday in Dallas at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
(el Amigo/Source: Yahoo Sports)
