DALLAS — All that excitement, parade planning and banner hanging will have to wait at least for one more game. The Celtics were discombobulated as they were embarrassed in a 122-84 loss to the Mavericks in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, giving Dallas a glimmer of hope. The C’s still lead the series 3-1 despite Friday’s blowout loss.
The Mavs played their best half of the Finals while the C’s played by far their worst of the playoffs. By halftime, it was a 26-point Dallas lead as the Celtics couldn’t do anything right. The C’s will look to close out the West champs in Game 5, set for 8:30 p.m. Monday at TD Garden.
Jayson Tatum had 15 points while Jaylen Brown finished with 10 points. Sam Hauser had 14 points off the bench as he got some extra playing time. There were few highlights for the Celtics as they battled frustrations and ineffectiveness all night. Luka Doncic was again excellent with 29 points, five rebounds and five assists. Kyrie Irving added another 21 points and, notably, the Mavs role players stepped up all night.
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After that humbling game, all the Celtics can do is regroup for Game 5. This current C’s core knows what it’s like to be down 3-0 in a series and try to claw back like they did in the 2023 East Finals. So as a result, they also know how crucial Game 5 on their home court will be to finish the job before allowing the Mavs to get more momentum.
Initially, the C’s and Mavs traded buckets Friday. But midway through the first quarter, the Mavs weren’t messing around in an elimination game. Their 26-point halftime lead spoke for itself as the Celtics simply couldn’t make any shots. The Mavs also dominated the boards, outrebounding the Celtics 37-17 by halftime. On the flip side, the C’s had zero points in the paint in the second quarter; they shot 29.7% in the first half overall.
The onslaught continued in the third quarter. The Mavericks’ lead peaked at 48 points in Friday’s game. Every time the Celtics got some offense going, the Mavs had an answer. By the time the Mavs had a 36-point lead late in the third quarter, C’s coach Joe Mazzulla had seen enough as he pulled the starters.
Notably, Friday was the first time the Celtics lost on the road these playoffs as they were 7-0 before. They were also a perfect 3-0 in closeout games. The C’s also saw their nine-game playoff win streak snapped as the last time they lost was May 9 against the Cavaliers. Regardless, all of that will be forgiven if the C’s bring the title home in Game 5.
