The Boston Celtics will have to win their 18th NBA title at home (and that may have been their intention). Dallas made sure to go undefeated (4-0) in the NBA Finals. The unrecognizable Boston was defeated by the Mavericks by 38 points: 122-84.
Whoever wins 4 times is the champion. But never before in history has a team been able to overcome a 3-0 deficit in the playoffs. Boston can now try twice at its own TD Garden, and on Monday its 18th title — a record by which it leaves the Los Angeles Lakers behind — could become a reality.
Dallas was the fifth seed in the West, eliminating the Los Angeles Clippers (4-2-4), Oklahoma (1-2-4) and Minnesota (3-1-4) along the way. But the Celtics are a different ballgame.
Boston, the regular top team, opened the NBA Finals with two home wins (107-89 and 105-98). On Wednesday, the Celtics also won in Dallas (99-106).
With their backs against the wall, the Mavs were able to maintain their honor at their American Airlines Center.
Once again, Luka Doncic set a good example with 29 points. Kyrie Irving (21 points) and Derek Lively (11 points, 12 pounds) also contributed more than one goal. It was Dallas who actually spoke: after the first quarter the difference was 13 points (21-14), in the first half 26 (35-61) and as many as 48 points in the fourth quarter.
For Boston, Jayson Tatum, the team’s leading scorer, scored only 15 points. This was the Celtics’ worst loss since coach Joe Mazzola took over in the fall of 2022.
18
The Celtics eliminated the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Indiana Pacers, respectively. Since 2008 the Massachusetts team has managed to win the main prize again.
The Celtics last finished back in 2022, when Golden State was very strong. The Mavs reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 2011. Then Dallas took home the only trophy in the history of its club.
“We believe in it until the end,” Doncic remains ambitious.
Tweets about the concert:
2024 NBA Finals (Best of 7)
| Boston – Dallas 2-0 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Boston-Dallas | 107-89 | |
| Game 2 | Boston-Dallas | 105-98 | |
| Game 3 | dallas boston | 99-106 | |
| Game 4 | dallas boston | 122-84 | |
| (maybe) | Game 5 | Boston-Dallas | 18/06, 2.30am |
| Game 6 | dallas boston | 21/06, 2.30am | |
| Game 7 | Boston-Dallas | 06/24, 2 AM | |
NBA Playoffs
| NBA Finals (Best of 7) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics (1) | Dallas Mavericks (5) | 3-1 |
| Conference Finals (Best of 7) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Western Conference | ||
| Minnesota Timberwolves (3) | Dallas Mavericks (5) | 1-4 |
| Eastern Conference | ||
| Boston Celtics (1) | Indiana Pacers (6) | 4-0 |
| Round 2 (Best of 7) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Conference | ||
| Boston Celtics (1) | Cleveland Cavaliers (4) | 4-1 |
| Indiana Pacers (6) | New York Knicks (2) | 4-3 |
| Western Conference | ||
| Oklahoma City Thunder (1) | Dallas Mavericks (5) | 2-4 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves (3) | Denver Nuggets (2) | 4-3 |
| Round 1 (Best of 7) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Conference | ||
| Boston Celtics (1) | Miami (8) | 4-1 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers (4) | Orlando Magic (5) | 4-3 |
| Milwaukee Bucks (3) | Indiana Pacers (6) | 2-4 |
| New York Knicks (2) | Philadelphia 76ers (7) | 4-2 |
| Western Conference | ||
| Oklahoma City Thunder (1) | New Orleans (8) | 4-0 |
| Los Angeles Clippers (4) | Dallas Mavericks (5) | 2-4 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves (3) | Phoenix Suns (6) | 4-0 |
| Denver Nuggets (2) | Los Angeles Lakers (7) | 4-1 |
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