The Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks, 106-99, in Game 3 of the NBA Finals Presented by YouTube TV to take a 3-0 series lead. The Mavericks mounted a fourth quarter comeback as they trailed by 21 points (91-70) at the 10:21 mark of the fourth quarter to make it a 93-92 game with 3:37 to go. Boston held off despite being outscored 29-21 in the final quarter.
Jayson Tatum led Boston with 31 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists while Jaylen Brown added 30 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. Derrick White added 35 points and 3 rebounds for Boston. Kyrie Irving led the Mavericks with 35 points and 2 assists (4-6 3PT) while Luka Doncic added 27 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists prior to fouling out. Dereck Lively II totaled 11 points (5-6 FG) and 13 rebounds in the win.
Game 4 will take place in Dallas on Friday, June 14 (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
Game Notes
• This is just the second time a Boston Celtics duo have scored 30+ PTS in a Finals game. Jaylen Brown (30 PTS) and Jayson Tatum (31 PTS) join John Havlicek and Bailey Howell:
o May 2, 1968: BOS at LAL – John Havlicek (40 PTS) and Bailey Howell (30 PTS).
o It’s just the 40th time a duo has had 30+ PTS each in a NBA Finals game.
• With the Game 3 victory, Boston has now extended their postseason franchise-best win streak to 10 consecutive games. They are just the ninth team to win 10 or more consecutive games in a single postseason.
• The two most recent teams to reach this mark were the Golden State Warriors (15 straight) and the Cleveland Cavaliers (10 straight) in the 2017 Playoffs.
• Four of the previous eight teams won the NBA Finals that year:
o 2017 Golden State Warriors 15 – (Won Finals)
o 1999 San Antonio Spurs 12 – (Won Finals)
o 2001 Los Angeles Lakers 11 – (Won Finals)
o 1989 Los Angeles Lakers 11 – (Lost Finals)
o 2017 Cleveland Cavaliers 10 – (Lost Finals)
o 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers 10 – (Won Finals)
o 2012 San Antonio Spurs 10 – (Lost WCF)
o 2003 New Jersey Nets 10 – (Lost Finals)
o 2024 Boston Celtics 10 – (Up 3-0 in Finals)
• The Celtics also move to 7-0 on the road during this year’s playoffs.
@user-nektarios
June 13, 2024 at 12:01 pm
what derrick white did is an unsportmanlike foul, thus 2 free throws and ball for the mavs. Its a shame truly because the situation might have differed if the call was called…
@uhh_brandon
June 13, 2024 at 12:18 pm
celtics were stuck on 93 just like the warriors in game 7 2016
@callofdutyblackops1873
June 13, 2024 at 12:22 pm
How was this a wild ending at all?
@joints2100
June 13, 2024 at 1:25 pm
Celtics are just too good this year.
@tatt4music
June 13, 2024 at 1:36 pm
All I have read is mavericks fans complaining about the refs. In this 4 minutes alone the Mavs got away with 2 pushes. One on white and one on Horford. So shut up and take your medicine.
@javiermeza7176
June 13, 2024 at 2:17 pm
Best fathers day present..Seeing the face of the queen of the drama crying baby Luka!!!!!
@christophertamis4583
June 13, 2024 at 3:00 pm
Imagine knowing basketball, understanding match ups, knowing how much experience you need to win the Finals….. and picking the Mavs to win. Such a horrible job by the majority of “hot take” folks.
@kamalmuradov445
June 13, 2024 at 4:12 pm
“Most people, if they had really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they do want, and want acutely, something that cannot be had in this world. There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give it to you, but they never quite keep their promise […] If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”
Lewis continues, “Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing. If that is so, I must take care, on the one hand, never to despise, or be unthankful for, these earthly blessings, and on the other, never to mistake them for the something else of which they are only a kind of copy, or echo, or mirage. I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country and to help others to do the same.”
– C. S. Lewis, from Mere Christianity, pp. 135-137. Published by HarperCollins.
“Know that the life of this world is only play, and idle talk, and pageantry, and boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children; as the likeness of vegetation after rain, whereof the growth is pleasing to the husbandman, but afterward it drieth up and thou seest it turning yellow then it becometh straw. And in the Hereafter there is grievous punishment, and (also) forgiveness from Allah and His good pleasure, whereas the life of the world is but matter of illusion.” ( Quran. Surah Al-Hadid. ayat 20 )
“O, ye who believe! Bow down and prostrate yourselves, and worship your Lord, and do good, that haply ye may prosper.”
( Quran. Surah Al-Hajj. ayat 77 )
@Ebstarrunner
June 13, 2024 at 4:30 pm
Luka: It’s ok when I move my feet on a screen! It’s not a foul! The media said I was the best!!!
@Ebstarrunner
June 13, 2024 at 4:30 pm
I feel bad for the Mavs.. They had to wait to get battle tested in the Finals
@TheMastermindzTV
June 13, 2024 at 5:18 pm
6:13 Kyrie had Tim in the corner wide open
@nancysamsen3586
June 13, 2024 at 5:27 pm
BAD REFFERING ONCE AGAIN ! Dallas got ripped off, 3 calls went against them that should not have, the one on Washington was awful, I question the call on luka. Dallas had there chance to win this they came storming back and at times had the lead. The Refs got in the way of the Mavs Winning this game !
@PeterRolle-cm5qb
June 13, 2024 at 6:31 pm
🧹🧹🧹🧹
@huh5322
June 13, 2024 at 6:35 pm
As someone who wanted Luka to win a championship, how did you think he was making it this far? His team has been the underdog the whole time and now in the NBA Finals against the Celtics superteam people think they are winning? I wanted him to win truly, but there is a difference between hopes and reality. Sorry you had to face this team, Luka.
@RA1NM4N978
June 13, 2024 at 7:00 pm
Yelling “Defense” loud I guess didn’t work as they planned lmao Celtics are about to sweep them and it will be a very sad story for Kyrie and Luka. Lmao can’t wait I’ma a Bostononian of course I’m going for the Celtics.
@rambojp73
June 13, 2024 at 7:00 pm
You gotta credit the Celtics defence, they have done great! 🍀🏴
@kntfhvn
June 13, 2024 at 8:26 pm
moment of silence for those idiots who actually thought the mavs stood a chance.
@davidthompson8191
June 13, 2024 at 8:52 pm
Brah .. didn’t see tht coming….. TBH…I haven’t watched 1 game of the playoffs….but i was rooting for the maves….only bcuz of Kyrie…I be watching the YouTube highlights…so….dam😅
@fausto-ei2iq
June 13, 2024 at 9:45 pm
super rugby americas
@stmartinshirt
June 13, 2024 at 10:07 pm
Celtic can handle finals pressure the other cannot. Better luck next season Mavs
@rool7956
June 13, 2024 at 11:02 pm
Mavs got the calls all playoffs- now it’s about even and you see what’s happening- Mavs shouldn’t be in finals and are getting exposed
@samuelkimani3782
June 14, 2024 at 1:53 am
i think brown is the difference in this celtic team.dude is so hungry.he be like a vampire
@aHric322
June 14, 2024 at 3:26 am
WOW the media team is so great they are doing a great job. Showing Luka’s reaction every call, VERY GOOD JOB. Expose the trash players that are destroying the game.
@renzoenzo7535
June 14, 2024 at 3:28 am
Jaylen Brown Mid Range Game was lethal 🔥🔥🔥
He deserves to be the FMVP
@WYNNBETS
June 14, 2024 at 5:48 am
The close out game is always the toughest. For some odd reason, I don’t believe Boston can close this 3-0 run out. Something weird is about to happen. I know Vegas got something cooking…