DALLAS — As the Celtics entered the trade deadline as the clear best team in the NBA, there were only so many areas they could add to their roster. Their rotation was largely set, so any trade addition would have to be with an eye on the team’s depth.
Enter Xavier Tillman. The front office elected to upgrade the front court depth by dealing for Tillman from the Grizzlies. So on the grand stage known as the NBA Finals, the Celtics leaned on Tillman for some of his biggest minutes of the season. Tillman was a crucial factor in the Game 3 win over the Mavericks in the Finals, providing productive backup minutes with Kristaps Porzingis sidelined.
“This is something as far as staying ready is something I’ve been doing for the majority of my career,” Tillman said. “So this is something that like I’ve been preparing for, I guess for a while now. So I was ready for the opportunity. They were kind of hinting at potentially if KP’s workout didn’t go well and he didn’t feel comfortable that I was going to have to step in today.”
BetMGM BET UP TO $1,500! BONUS BET REFUND AFTER A LOSS
STATES: AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MD, MI, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms and Conditions. 21 years of age or older to wager. MA Only. New Customer Offer. All promotions are subject to qualification and eligibility requirements. Rewards issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets. Bonus bets expire 7 days from issuance. In Partnership with MGM Springfield. Play it smart from the start with GameSense. GameSenseMA.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org. US Promotional Offers not available in New York.
While Tillman’s offensive game is limited, it’s clear his defensive abilities can make an impact. That’s exactly what the Michigan State product did as he got multiple stops in his 11 minutes off the bench. Tillman finished with three points, four rebounds and two blocks as the Mavs tried to test him, though that often resulted in a Celtics stop.
Those three points, too, were especially important. Tillman sunk a wide-open corner 3-pointer late in the third quarter when the C’s made their massive run. The Celtics bench, especially, exploded after the make as they saw one of their “Stay Ready” members make a crucial impact in limited minutes.
“Defensively, I thought he was stellar, and that big shot he made in the corner, I just knew it,” said Jaylen Brown, who made the pass. “I just knew when I drove, they were going to help, and he was going open. And I trusted it all the way. I just knew it was going in. I don’t know how to tell you. It was just like a divine experience. I knew X was going to make that shot, and he did. That was big for us.”
The Celtics now lead the Finals with a commanding 3-0 series lead. No team has ever come back from such a deficit in NBA history. But the C’s aren’t looking past Game 4, set for 8:30 p.m. Friday in Dallas. It’s unclear if Porzingis will be able to suit up because of his rare injury, so that could mean Tillman’s number could be once again called upon. Regardless, as he showed in Game 3, he’ll be ready.
“I feel like switching is like my bread-and-butter defensively,” Tillman said. “That’s something that allows me to use my quick feet and my strength to be able to bump guys on versus being in drop coverage and having to use my vertical leap. So for me being able to switch and stuff like that is more catered for me. Being able to get subbed in and used for those opportunities, I feel like I can excel majority of the time.”
