Final: Mavs 122, Celtics 84 - Nothing goes right for Boston in Game 4

BOSTON CELTICS at DALLAS MAVERICKS

NBA Finals, Game 4

Celtics lead 3-0

American Airlines Center, 8:30 p.m. - ABC

Line: Dallas -1.5

INJURIES

Boston: Kristaps Porzingis (QUESTIONABLE, ankle)

Dallas: Luka Doncic (PROBABLE, Knee/ankle)

SERIES

Game 1: Celtics 107-Mavericks 89 

The teams went back and forth to start the game, but Boston went on a monster 25-7 run fueled by Kristaps Porzingis and great overall defense, to take a 17-point lead after one. Jaylen Brown helped push the lead as high as 29 before a late flurry cut it to 21 at the half. The Mavs went on a huge run to cut the lead all the way down to eight, but Boston answered, behind some amazing defense by Brown, to get it back up to 20. It got up to 25 in the fourth, and Boston cruised from there.   

Game 2: Celtics 105-Mavericks 97

The Celtics really struggled with their shooting in the first quarter while Luka Doncic dropped 13 and Kyrie Irving added eight. But Boston was only down three thanks to going 10-10 from the line. Jrue Holiday found openings around the rim on his way to an 11 point quarter, flipping the deficit to a three-point lead at halftime. The lead got up to 13 despite the rough shooting, but the Mavs were able to cut it to six before a Payton Pritchard buzzer-beater sent the crowd into a frenzy. They got the lead back up to 14 late in the third after Holiday and Derrick White hit consecutive 3-pointers. The Mavs made one last push but White's key late block sealed the win.

Game 3: Celtics 106-Mavericks 99

The Celtics fell behind by 13 early in the first quarter as the Mavs came out blistering hot and aggressive. But the Celtics chipped away, got 13 from Jayson Tatum, and answered to go into the second quarter down only one. Tatum and Kyrie Irving dueled to a standstill in the second to keep it a one-point game at halftime. Boston dominated the third, out-scoring Dallas 35-19 behind a monster quarter from Jaylen Brown. It got up to 21 early in the fourth but Dallas went on a 20-2 run to cut the lead to three. The teams went back and forth but Dallas was never able to tie the game. 

ONE THING I’M LOOKING FOR

Stick to the plan: This is all I’m looking for tonight. Stick to the plan. Do the thing that got you the three wins. You’ve come this far sticking to the plan, this is no time to deviate from it. 

And that includes if the lead grows to 20 again. Just keep going at Doncic. Keep going at Kyrie. Keep it up and don’t let up. 

We don’t need any additional analysis. This is simply about finishing the job. 

There's a championship to be won. Go freakin’ win it. 

Follow along with my thoughts as the game goes on. They’ll show up below and in the comments section, so hop in and share your opinion as well.