NBA Finals 2023-24: Luka Doncic and the Mavericks Stave Off Sweep with Dominant Game 4 Victory
NBA Finals 2023-24: Luka Doncic showcased his exceptional talent, scoring 25 of his 29 points in the first half, leading the Dallas Mavericks to a commanding 122-84 victory over the Boston Celtics.
This crucial win prevented a sweep and sent the series back to Boston for Game 5 on Monday.
In Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday, the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Boston Celtics 122-84 to avoid a sweep. Luka Doncic scored 25 of his 29 points in the first half, while Kyrie Irving added 21 points.
On Monday, the series returns to Boston for Game 5, where the Celtics will try to win it all at home. After Boston was the stronger team and won the first three games of the best-of-seven series, Dallas showed life by extending the series.
In Game 4, the script was reversed. The Mavericks and Doncic got off to a quick start and never looked back. With 3:19 remaining in the first quarter, Doncic finished off a 10-0 run that he had begun with a floater. Dallas now led 25-14. What was to follow was hinted at by that early run.
By the end of the first quarter, Dallas led 34–21 thanks to 3-pointers from Irving and P.J. Washington, which accounted for the game’s last six points.
The Mavericks continued to dominate. At 5:16 in the second quarter, Irving’s layup put them up 50–25 over the Celtics. Maxi Kleber scored a corner 3-pointer with a Doncic assist to end the half. Dallas led 61–35 at the half as a result.
Also Read: NBA Finals: Tatum, Brown Lead Celtics to 106-99 Victory Against Mavericks, Claim 3-0 Series Lead
In the first half, the Mavericks shot 52.3 percent from the field while the Celtics only managed 29.7 percent. During the first 24 minutes, Dallas also prevailed 29–13 in the rebounding battle.
With five minutes remaining in the game, Jaden Hardy’s 3-pointer gave Dallas a 115-67 advantage, capping a second-half onslaught in which they led by as many as 48 points.
Tim Hardaway Jr.’s 3-pointer five minutes earlier had put the Mavericks over the 100-point barrier. Against Boston, Dallas failed to score 100 points in any of the first three games.
Hardaway scored 15 points in the end, making 5 of 7 3-pointers. It was disappointing for Boston, a team that still has the upper hand in the Finals. When leading 3-0 in a best-of-seven series, NBA clubs are 156-0.
With 15 points, Jayson Tatum led the Celtics. Payton Pritchard scored 11 points, and Sam Hauser contributed 14.
