Beating on a Perfect Night by Dallas Mavericks Extends Streak and Postpones Celtics Party | Relief

The NBA trophy was already in Dallas, ready to be delivered if the Celtics won the game, but Luka Doncic and the Mavs wanted to extend the series and the season a little longer. Jason Kidd’s team played a perfect first half, crushing the Celtics 122-84 to force Game 5. Boston’s party was rescheduled and will move to TD Garden on Monday, but Dallas got its first win in the finals. And giving life to a team with Luka Doncic doesn’t seem like the best idea. But the Celtics had no answer to these Mavericks’ barrage on both sides of the floor. They were four points away from the biggest victory in finals history, a difference of 42 points, but they achieved a victory that leaves them dreaming big.

The difference was so great that With 3:18 left in the third quarter, still 15 minutes into the game, Joe Mazulla raised the white flag. Each of the starters sat down with the outcome of the game decided and a difference of 36 points on the scoreboard. Two minutes later, Jason Kidd did the same as Luka Doncic scored 29 points in 33 minutes. On his side was Kyrie Irving, who, after 13 straight losses to the Celtics, finally managed to beat his former team. He scored 21 points, although Dallas’ secondary plays were key. Derek Lively had a double-double off the bench with 11 points and 12 rebounds, while P.J. Washington, Derrick Jones and Dante Exum combined for 5/8 on threes.

Even Tim Hardaway Jr., who hadn’t made a triple the entire series, made five off the bench in Last period, he was a runner without any history, with players who spent a season in the G League making their Finals debuts like AJ Lawson, Jordan Walsh or Jaden Springer. Porzingis was not seen, despite being ready to play, he did not play a second. By then, Doncic was enjoying a protein shake, even out of shape, knowing his homework was done. Which were closed in the first half of the year.

Just like in Game 3, the Mavericks stepped on the gas pedal even harder. The urgency of knowing that a loss would end the season and leave the Celtics as champions, although this time it lasted more than five minutes. He started at the back on defense and became a reality in the hands of Luka Doncic, who was touched in the first half. Everything was going well for Dallas, right up until Derek Lively dominated the boards and hit his first career triple off the corner. Boston led 11–10 and ended the first quarter up 24–11. Doncic and Kyrie combined for one more point (22) than the Celtics. And this was only the first act of the evening, which in Boston promised to be very long.

A night that quickly turned into a nightmare. Boston failed to make a two-point shot in the second quarter, holding them to 14 points, and the Celtics’ 35 first-half points were the Celtics’ worst performance of the Mazzulla era. On the other hand, once again Kyrie (11) and especially Luka Doncic, who scored 25 points at halftime, combined to score one more point than Boston. Dallas dominated in every aspect of the game, but especially in the paint. Eight offensive rebounds and 10 second-chance points, 34-12, a point differential in the restricted area and a beating, 61-35, had historical implications. Because in Boston, no one showed themselves, only Tatum scored 8 points, and at halftime – 15. In the second half, he did not score a single goal.

In the second half, all that remained was to know whether Boston was going to try or whether they would quickly give up. Two Jayson Tatum fouls, a difference of more than 30 points, and by then it was the Mavs’ race against history.. If only they could achieve a 42-point margin of victory over the Bulls’ 1998 upset of Utah. They had only 38 points left, the third best score, although the difference was up to 48 points. It was also the second-largest win in Dallas playoff history, and throughout the series they had a six-point lead over the Celtics after four games. It remains to be seen whether the Celtics are truly hurt by the beating or realize that no matter how bad it was, it’s still only worth one win. Joe Mazzulla has a job.

A little history from the green side. Tonight, the Celtics suffered their first loss in 36 days after winning 10 straight and their first loss as a guest in the playoffs since Game 3 of last year’s Finals against Miami, which made it eight wins in a row. A carnage for the history books, but they still have the series. And considering that the NBA’s 0-3 deficit has never been recovered. They’ll have a second chance at TD Garden on Monday to close out the series and pick up their 18th ring in history unless Luka avoids it again.