Mavs avoid sweep with historic Game 4 rout of Celtics in NBA Finals

The Dallas Mavericks avoided elimination in the 2024 NBA Finals on Friday with a commanding 122-84 victory over the Boston Celtics at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.

Boston had aimed to achieve a rare 4-0 sweep in the NBA Finals but found themselves overwhelmed by Dallas’ dominant performance.

The Mavericks’ 38-point margin of victory stands as the third-largest blowout in NBA Finals history. The largest remains the Chicago Bulls’ 42-point win over the Utah Jazz in Game 3 of the 1998 Finals. In 2008, the Celtics recorded a 39-point victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6.

“It’s straightforward. We didn’t complicate things. This isn’t rocket science,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd told reporters after the game. “Our team was prepared, hungry, and ready to fight. We were desperate. We need to maintain this level of play. Closing out games is tough in this league, especially against a team that has nothing to lose. Tonight, we showed that.”

Dallas took control early, leading Boston by 13 points after the first quarter and extending their advantage to 61-35 by halftime. Luka Doncic led the charge with 29 points, including 25 in the first half, along with five rebounds and three assists. Kyrie Irving contributed 21 points, six assists, and four rebounds. The Mavericks shot an impressive 50.5% from the field and 40.5% from beyond the arc (15-for-37), dominating inside with a 60-26 scoring advantage in the paint.

Defensively, Dallas held Boston to 36.3% shooting overall and 34.1% from 3-point range (14-for-41). Celtics stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown struggled, combining for just 25 points on 7-for-22 shooting.

“We had a solid plan. The process was good. Our preparation was good,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla remarked. “But tonight, Dallas simply outplayed us. They were more aggressive.”

The series now shifts to Boston for Game 5, with Dallas aiming to become the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3-0 deficit in the playoffs.

“It doesn’t change anything,” Doncic emphasized. “From the start of this series, it’s about winning four games. We’ll keep believing. I have full confidence in this team.”