Early Deficit Leads To Celtics Downfall

Mavericks Pull Away to Avoid Sweep in NBA Finals

Early Deficit Leads to Celtics' Downfall

The Boston Celtics' hope for a sweep were dashed on Friday night as the Dallas Mavericks fought back with a dominant 122-84 victory in Game 4 of the 2024 NBA Finals.

Dominant Start by Mavericks

The Mavericks came out strong in the first half, leading by a stunning 61-35 margin at halftime. Their offensive rating of 761 was the highest in any half of an NBA Finals game this season.

Tatum and Brown Struggle

The Celtics' normally reliable duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown struggled to find their rhythm. They combined for only 33 points on 11-of-35 shooting, well below their usual production.

Doncic and Irving Shine

In contrast, the Mavericks' Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving took control of the game. Doncic led all scorers with 32 points, while Irving added 28. Together, they accounted for nearly all of their team's points in the first half.

Celtics Pull Away

The second half saw no relief for the Celtics. The Mavericks continued to dominate, outscoring their opponents by 13 points in the third quarter and 23 points in the fourth. The final margin of 38 points was the third-largest in NBA Finals history.

With the victory, the Mavericks stave off elimination and force the series back to Boston for Game 5. The Celtics will look to regain their footing and close out the series at home, while the Mavericks will aim to extend their season even further.