With the Celtics leading by 21 points in the fourth quarter and hope seemingly dead, something almost unbelievable happened at American Airlines Arena. A 22 to 2 run launched by the Mavericks, to shake the greens until the end of the suspense. A run which will only be interrupted by THE turning point of these 2024 Finals.
We enter the fourth quarter of Game 3 of the 2024 NBA Finals. Jaylen Brown and Derrick White hit a 3-pointer one after the other. 91-70 Celtics. Jason Kidd takes a timeout. There are 11:07 left on the clock. We all think it, the carrots are cooked for the Mavericks. The writer of the article first. The latter is particularly lucid, having agreed to take a nap of 1 hour to 2 hours after playing League Of Legends for four hours in a row. The Mavs are going to lose by 30 points, we’re not doing it to them, it’s written. Except no. A first long distance from Attache Washington, then a lay-up from Luka Doncic. Good. If that’s all it is.
But it’s not just that. Derek Lively II reintroduces the ball into the circle after Luka Doncic’s failed 3-pointer. Then Josh Green scores from afar. Celtics timeout. PJ Washington is 2/2 on throws. This is the moment that Jaylen Brown chooses to enter a fadeaway. Finally a basket for Boston. The Celts still lead by 11 points. For now.
Kyrie Irving puts on a floater. Washington does it again with a 3-pointer, then Kyrie makes his three shots. Celtics timeout. 93-90 Celts. And this is the turning point of the match. Luka Doncic takes his fifth then his sixth foul with 26 seconds of intervals, looking to stop the very clever Jaylen Brown. He is excluded from the meeting. The Mavs were only 3 points away from coming back. They won’t come back. Kyrie Irving pull-up, it fits. 93-91 Boston. We still believe in it among the Mavs, even without the leader. But the atmosphere is no longer the same, you can feel it.
Jaylen Brown, again, scores, then Derrick White scores 3-points. Then two throws for Kai the clutch. But Jayson Tatum will bring his team back to +6 with a big dunk. Derek Lively II will chain two big smashes, but the Celtics will inflict a final 6-0 on the Mavericks from which they will not recover. 106-99 Celtics. We’ll leave it there.
The way I look at it, the Mavericks have the opportunity to complete the greatest comeback of all time. pic.twitter.com/Eiug6S7VDc
— Hoops (@HoopMixOnly) https://twitter.com/HoopMixOnly/status/1801109569432703373?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The Mavs will be able to complain about the arbitration which cost them Luka Doncic. In the meantime, more fouls were called against the Celtics, and they had fewer free throws than the Mavs. The Mavericks’ magnificent 22-2 run might have been legendary, but it will ultimately remain just a footnote in the NBA history books. Sometimes it really, really doesn’t matter much.
