The Dallas Mavericks averted being swept within the NBA Finals, profitable Sport 4 in dominating vogue. Two days after a devastating Sport 3 loss, the Mavericks beat the Celtics 122-84 on Friday. There’s only one downside — it is too late.
Regardless of the spectacular win, the Celtics are on their solution to profitable the franchise’s 18th championship.
Luka Doncic responded to adversity like a celebrity ought to, scoring 29 factors and including 5 rebounds and 5 assists within the first NBA Finals win of his profession. However Dallas wanted that effort from Doncic in Sport 3.
As an alternative, Doncic, who scored 27 on Wednesday, fouled out with simply over 4 minutes left. Doncic’s early exit hampered his crew down the stretch. And whereas some might argue the validity of Doncic’s sixth foul, he put himself in that scenario by arguing with the referees all recreation.
The Mavericks have already misplaced twice on this sequence when Doncic scored over 30 factors, making his play inadequate to show the sequence round fully.
Quick-forward to the place the sequence presently stands: The Celtics nonetheless maintain a commanding 3-1 sequence lead. The chances additionally level to Boston lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy for a number of causes.
Very like Doncic refused to let his crew down in back-to-back video games, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are unlikely to battle in the identical recreation once more. They mixed for 25 factors in Sport 4, some extent complete they often method independently. And primarily based on how this sequence has been going, if even one among them will get again to type, it is over.
Other than Sport 4, a uncommon poor efficiency for the Celtics as a crew, Dallas should win a recreation in Boston to increase this sequence. Whereas good groups can often win wherever, the Celtics are driving a five-game house win streak. Boston has solely misplaced two video games at house all through your complete playoffs.
Even when the Mavs win Video games 5 and 6, they need to win Sport 7 in Boston to finish the historic comeback. Historical past is simply not on their aspect.
No NBA crew has ever come again to win a sequence after trailing 3-0. Just one crew has ever stormed again from down 3-1 — LeBron James main the Cavaliers to a title over the Warriors in 2016.
So although Dallas confirmed coronary heart by dominating in an elimination recreation, it is exhausting to consider they are going to get pleasure from an identical outcome three extra instances in a row. If Doncic, 25, and his Mavericks can return to the NBA Finals stage, they are going to be higher outfitted to win. However as for the current day, Sport 4 will not change the trajectory of this sequence.
