On Wednesday night, the Boston Celtics secured a 3-0 lead in the NBA Finals, defeating the Dallas Mavericks 106-99 in Game 3. Despite a strong start from Dallas, Boston’s resilience and depth propelled them to a crucial victory.

First Quarter: Fast Start by Dallas

The Mavericks jumped to a 13-point lead early in the first quarter, driven by impressive performances from Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Dallas appeared in control as Doncic tallied 13 points and Irving added nine. However, Boston quickly responded, closing the gap to just one point by the end of the quarter. Jayson Tatum, who had been struggling in previous games, scored 13 points on 4 of 7 shooting, including a last-second cherry-pick dunk that left Dallas ahead by only 31-30.

Second Quarter: A Tight Contest

The second quarter remained tightly contested, with both teams struggling to break away. Dallas maintained a slim lead at halftime, 51-50. Irving found his rhythm, finishing the half with 20 points on 8 of 14 shooting, including 4 of 5 from three-point range. Doncic contributed 17 points, but the Mavericks lacked additional scoring support, with no other player surpassing five points.

Boston mirrored Dallas in their reliance on Tatum, who led the Celtics with 20 points on 7 of 15 shooting. The Celtics, missing Kristaps Porzingis due to injury, saw unexpected contributions from Sam Hauser, who scored nine points off the bench by hitting all three of his three-point attempts.

Third Quarter: Celtics Take Control

The Celtics seized control of the game in the third quarter, outscoring the Mavericks 35-19. Tatum continued his strong performance, increasing his total to 27 points. However, it was Jaylen Brown who truly shined, scoring 15 of his 21 points in the third quarter alone, including a powerful driving dunk that energized the Celtics. By the end of the quarter, Boston had built a commanding 85-70 lead.

For Dallas, Irving finished with 26 points, and Doncic added 25, but their supporting cast struggled mightily. P.J. Washington made his first three-pointer of the game but managed only four points. The Mavericks’ offense remained overly reliant on Doncic and Irving, and they struggled against Boston’s stifling defense.

Fourth Quarter: Boston Holds On

The Celtics extended their lead to 21 points early in the fourth quarter, but Dallas mounted a desperate comeback with a 20-2 run. However, the Mavericks’ hopes were dashed when Doncic fouled out with just over four minutes remaining. Despite the late surge, Boston’s stars—Brown, Tatum, and Derrick White—steadied the ship and guided the Celtics to a 106-99 victory.

Looking Ahead to Game 4

With Boston leading the series 3-0, the Mavericks face a daunting challenge. No team in NBA history has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit in a playoff series. Game 4 is set for Friday, June 14, at 8:30 p.m. PT in Dallas. The Mavericks must find a way to win to keep their championship hopes alive.