BOSTON 106, DALLAS 99
Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after making a shot.Credit: Getty Images
KEY POINTS
Great shots, great win
All series, Boston coach Joe Mazzulla has urged his players to fight for great shots, the ESPN microphones even picked up Jayson Tatum admonishing himself to his teammates for taking a rushed shot. This is because the Celtics know their biggest advantage over Dallas is that they are far better at creating shots for each other. In their game three win on Thursday, Tatum had 31 points, Jaylen Brown had 24 of his 30 points in the second half, but they still combined for 13 of Boston’s 26 assists. The Mavs were again left frustrated as they fell behind 21 points but then battled back in the last quarter to get within a point before Boston pulled away again. Kyrie Irving had a game-high 35 points and Luka Doncic had 27 points, but he fouled out with two minutes to go after Brown attacked him defensively in the final term. Doncic was not happy post game. “We couldn’t play physical,” Doncic said post game. “I don’t want to say anything, but six fouls in the NBA finals? My hands are out like this. C’mon man. We have to be better than that.”
Exum dunks, then benched
Australian guard Dante Exum provided one of the highlight plays of the NBA finals when he drove to the bucket late in the first quarter and dunked over Tatum. It might be the best individual play an Aussie has made in the NBA finals since Patty Mills caught fire for San Antonio against LeBron James’ Miami Heat in 2014. But strangely, Exum didn’t return to the court, with Mavs coach Jason Kidd giving more minutes to Tim Hardaway jnr, a veteran shooting guard who was among the team’s leading scorers early in the season, but has only played sparingly in the play-offs. Unless Exum suffered an injury that has yet to be disclosed, it seems stunning that he wasn’t offered another stint on the floor. Fellow Aussie Josh Green didn’t play in the first quarter, but filled some important minutes in the second half, including knocking down a three during the comeback run in the final term. One would hope they will both get more time in the next – perhaps last – game.
Can Boston close it out?
Brown put it perfectly in his chat with ESPN soon after the buzzer. Boston must “stay in the moment” as they look to try and secure the championship in game four on Saturday (AEST) in Dallas. While it would be Boston’s 18th NBA championship, the core of team – Tatum, Brown and Al Horford – are chasing their first NBA title. They’ll no doubt be nervy, but Brown is ready for it. “Stay in the moment,” he said. “Just stay in the moment. Smile. Appreciate everything as I’m grateful to be here.” For all the talk about who is Boston’s best player, this game showed Boston is at its best when both Brown and Tatum are firing freely and also looking to set up their mates. If that happens again on Saturday, it will take them a long way towards a deserved NBA title.