NBA Finals 2024: Boston Celtics take 3-0 lead despite late Dallas Mavericks rally as Luka Doncic fouls out

The Boston Celtics are one game away from winning the NBA Championship after taking a 3-0 lead over the Dallas Mavericks in the seven-game Finals series.

Game 3 saw the Celtics withstand a late Dallas fightback to secure a 106-99 win ahead of a potentially decisive Game 4 on Friday.

Jayson Tatum’s 31 points and 30 for Jaylen Brown helped them on their way, however, the Celtics almost saw a 21-point lead evaporate as Dallas battled back.

Boston held a commanding 91-70 lead early in the fourth quarter before Dallas answered 22-2 to get within a point with just over three minutes remaining.

Kyrie Irving top-scored for the home side with 35 points with Doncic adding 27 as they threatened to pull off the biggest single-game comeback in NBA finals history since the Celtics themselves clawed back a 24-point deficit against the Los Angeles Lakers in 2008.

But for Doncic fouling out for the Mavs during that epic fourth, the outcome may have turned out differently, something Tatum would acknowledge afterwards.

“Not really trying to look too much into it,” he said of Celtics’ near-collapse. “The game of basketball is about runs. It’s never going to go like you expected.

“If you want to be a champion, you have to be resilient in those situations, and we did that tonight.”

The Celtics could wrap up the series and title with a win in Dallas next time out but will be cautious after the Mavs’ late rally in this game.

"We are not relaxing or anything like that," added Tatum. "You know, not even focusing on winning or whatever.

"However long it takes, that's our motto. However long it takes, that's what it's going to take. Nobody is not trying to relax at all."

A miserable night for the Mavs was compounded by Doncic controversially fouling out in the fourth quarter after a collision with Brown.  

The Celtics guard was on the charge when Doncic, on defence, appeared to leave his right shoulder out causing both men to hit the floor.  

It was Doncic’s sixth foul of the game, and the referee deemed the act to be a blocking foul.

Following an unsuccessful challenge, the Slovenian star was forced to watch the final four minutes 12 seconds of his side’s latest defeat from the sidelines.

“I mean, I don’t know. We couldn’t play physical. I don’t know. I don’t want to say nothing,” Doncic said afterwards.

“You know, six fouls in the NBA Finals, basically I’m like this [motions with palms out]. C’mon, man.”

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