Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown led the Boston Celtics to a pivotal victory over the Dallas Mavericks, securing a 3-0 lead in the NBA Finals. Tatum and Brown scored 31 and 30 points respectively, guiding their team to a 106-99 win in Game 3 of the best-of-seven series.
Despite the Celtics’ early dominance, the Mavericks staged a dramatic comeback. Trailing 91-70 at the start of the fourth quarter, Dallas narrowed the gap to just one point with three and a half minutes remaining. However, their efforts fell short as Boston held firm in the closing moments.
Kyrie Irving delivered an outstanding performance for the Mavericks, scoring a game-high 35 points. Luka Doncic added 27 points but fouled out with just over four minutes left, hampering Dallas’s comeback bid.
The Celtics are now one win away from their 18th NBA title and first since 2008. Reflecting on the game, Tatum emphasized the team’s focus and determination. “We are not relaxing or anything like that,” he said. “Not even focusing on winning or whatever. However long it takes, that’s our motto. Nobody is trying to relax at all.”
Brown echoed Tatum’s sentiments, highlighting the importance of their composure under pressure. “That was a big-time win for us, and I’m proud of how we played,” he said. “They had some momentum, but we kept our poise. We made timely baskets, got some good shots going in, and we found a way to win.”
For the Mavericks, the task ahead is daunting. No team in NBA history has come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series. Despite this, Doncic remains optimistic. “It’s not over till it’s over,” he asserted. “We’ve just got to believe. Like I always say, it’s first to four. We’re going to stay together. We lose together, we win together.”
The Celtics and Mavericks will face off again on Saturday at 01:30 BST, with Boston looking to clinch the championship and Dallas fighting to keep their hopes alive.
