Janice R. Andrews
Game 3 of the NBA Finals saw a great match between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks, with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown leading their team to a decisive 106-99 victory and a 3-0 series lead. With a stellar effort of 31 points from Tatum and a substantial 30 from Brown, the Celtics are getting closer to winning their 18th NBA championship.
The Celtics got out to a fast start, leading by a sizable margin at the beginning of the fourth quarter (91–70). But the Mavericks, powered by Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, pulled off an incredible comeback. Doncic added 27 points before fouling out with little over four minutes remaining in the game, while Irving finished with a game-high 35 points. After three and a half minutes, Dallas’ rally came to an end with a one-point disadvantage, despite their best attempts to overturn the deficit.
“We are not unwinding or doing anything similar,” Tatum made clear after the game. “You know, not even giving winning or anything else a priority. However long it takes, that’s our motto. That’s how long it will take, no matter how long. Nobody is making any effort to unwind.”
Brown highlighted the team’s resiliency by echoing his colleague’s thoughts. “That was a big-time win for us, and I’m proud of how we played,” Brown said. “They had a little momentum, but we remained composed. We created baskets on time. We made some excellent shots and managed to prevail.”
The Celtics’ defense, which kept up pressure on the Mavericks throughout the game and restricted their scoring chances, was also crucial to their triumph. Boston’s strategy this season has been characterized by a balance between offensive and defensive power, which has made them a dangerous challenger for the championship.
The Mavericks have a difficult road ahead of them. In NBA history, no team has ever won a playoff series after coming back from a 3-0 deficit. Even with the bleak circumstances, Luka Doncic is hopeful. Doncic declared, “It’s not over until it’s over.” All we have to do is have faith. As I always say, first to four. We’re not going to split apart. Together, we triumph and lose.”
The Celtics are focusing on sustaining their momentum as they prepare for Game 4, which is set to begin at 01:30 BST on Saturday. A win would be an important turning point for the team as it would be their first NBA championship since 2008.
The Celtics’ success thus far has been largely attributed to their outstanding players’ individual skill, strategic gameplay, and excellent collaboration. In times of need, Tatum and Brown have continuously shown leadership and tenacity by stepping up.
Conversely, the Dallas Mavericks have a difficult road ahead of them. Although Irving and Doncic proved they could compete with the Celtics in Game 3, they will need to improve much more if they want to have a chance at winning the title.
The storyline, which has fans excited for the upcoming match, is still the same: Boston is about to make history, and Dallas is trying to stop it. With the Mavericks hoping to create new records and the Celtics chasing their 18th championship, the NBA Finals are expected to be intensely competitive.
