Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown carried Boston to a win in Dallas.
The Boston Celtics are one win away from basketball immortality. Despite the fact that Kristaps Porzingis missed Game 3 of the 2024 NBA Finals due to a leg injury, the Celtics were able to ride a big third quarter en route to a 106-99 win over the Dallas Mavericks. As a result, the Celtics find themselves with a 3-0 series lead and their 18th NBA championship within their grasp.
With Porzingis out due to injury and Dallas finally playing in front of its home fans, the Mavs came out on fire to start the game. The team opened things up on a 9-2 run, with six of those points coming on shots right at the rim. Over and over the duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving attacked Boston in the paint, and got their lead up to as many as 13 points.
Kyrie starts off Game 3 with the bucket inside!#NBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV on ABC pic.twitter.com/tEzgDsHRFv
NBA (@NBA) June 13, 2024
Luka muscles his way inside… Mavs take an early 9-2 lead!#NBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV
???? Game 3 on ABC ???? pic.twitter.com/e0kV6qL8AN
— NBA (@NBA) June 13, 2024
Kyrie doing Kyrie things EARLY in Game 3!
Mavs looking for their first win on ABC ???? pic.twitter.com/BNyFrX1Sho
— NBA (@NBA) June 13, 2024
Kyrie the HIGH scoop.
Luka the TOUGH floater.
Mavs off to a hot start in Game 3 on ABC ???? pic.twitter.com/4a77XOnsTW
— NBA (@NBA) June 13, 2024
And then, Boston showed some serious resolve, as the Celtics went on an 11-0 run to get the lead down to two points. And while they were never able to take the lead in the game’s opening 12 minutes, the Celtics only faced a 1-point deficit at the end of the frame behind the best quarter Jayson Tatum’s played all series, as Dallas went into the second quarter up 31-30.
Jayson Tatum punches it home… finishing with 13 PTS in the 1Q!
Boston trails Dallas 31-30 at the end of 1 on ABC ???? pic.twitter.com/w7P2BRVLgP
— NBA (@NBA) June 13, 2024
The second was one of the best quarters we’ve had in the Finals, as neither team was able to really gain a foothold and as a result, things were tied or the lead was passed back and forth. Much of this came down to Irving and Tatum looking like a pair of stars, with both players scoring 20 first half points and giving the opposing defense headaches.
Kai and JT exchanging 3-pointers!
???? Game 3 on ABC ???? pic.twitter.com/vITKJnaEHl
— NBA (@NBA) June 13, 2024
Kyrie Irving is SIZZLING in the 1st half of Game 3 ????
20 PTS and 4 3PM on ABC! pic.
