NBA
Boston Celtics are one game away from a championship title. What to know about Game 4.
Celtics fend off Mavericks run to take 3-0 Finals lead
The Boston Celtics weathered a late comeback by the Dallas Mavericks to win 106-99 and take a 3-0 series lead in the NBA Finals.
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The Boston Celtics are one game away from another NBA championship, after securing a win in Game 3 Wednesday night.
The Boston Celtics may find themselves with an 18th banner this week if they win one more game against the Dallas Mavericks.
Game 4 of the NBA Finals will kick off Friday against the Dallas Mavericks. The Celtics have dominated the series, having won the first three games.
The Celtics haven’t won the NBA Finals since 2008, despite having 17 titles, which ties them for the most titles in league history with the Los Angeles Lakers. This is the team’s chance to break the tie.
Game 3 had the Celtics play tug-of-war with the score against the Mavs, eventually winning out and finishing off the game with a seven-point lead at 106-99.
Center Kristaps Porziņģis was not able to play in Game 3 despite previously saying he would be able to. It is unknown if he will be playing in Game 4, but it seems unlikely.
In the regular season, the Mavericks were 50-32, and the Celtics were 64-18.
When is Game 4 of the NBA Finals?
Game 4 will be Friday, June 14, and held in Dallas’ American Airlines Center.
What time does Game 4 start
Tipoff is at 8:30 p.m.
How to watch the Celtics game
The game will air on ABC.
If the Mavericks win Game 4, when is Game 5?
If the Mavericks win Game 4, then the series will come back to Boston.
Game 5*: Monday, June 17, 8:30 p.m. in Boston
Game 6*: Thursday, June 20, 8:30 p.m. in Dallas
Game 7*: Sunday, June 23, 8 p.m. in Boston
All games will be aired on ABC.
*if necessary.
Jaylen Brown stats
Jaylen Brown won the Eastern Conference Finals MVP after averaging a team-high 30.3 points a game in the series.
During the regular season, Brown averaged 23 points per game with 5.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists. He also shot 35% from behind the arc.
In the postseason, he scores 24.9 points per game with 6.1 rebounds, although with a lower assist stat and a lower three-pointer percentage at 34.4%.
In Game 3 of the Celtics-Mavs series, Brown put 30 points on the board.
Jrue Holiday stats
Jrue Holiday has been a stand-out player in these playoffs for the Celtics.
In the postseason, Holiday has been averaging 13.2 shots per game, with 6.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists.
In Game 3, he scored 9 points.
Holiday’s true talent that has been driving the Celtics to victories is how well he can play defense for Boston, consistently shutting down attacks from Dallas throughout this series.
Luka Dončić of the Mavericks
Luka Dončić is averaging 28.9 points per game in this playoff run and shooting 34.0% from three-point land.
In Game 3, Dončić scored 27 points.
Dončić fouled out of the game at the end of the fourth quarter with six personals.
Kyrie Irving of the Mavericks
Kyrie Irving, who suited up for Boston in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, is averaging 22.6 points this postseason, and shooting 40.5% from behind the arc.
In Game 3, Irving put up 35 points.
Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@gannett.com.