DALLAS (AP) — There were two options for the Mavericks in Game 4. Both involved packing their bags, either to travel to Boston or to go on vacation. Rest will have to wait, and Dallas is thrilled about it. Luka Doncic scored 29 points, including 25 in a frenetic first half, as the “Mavs” vehemently refused to be swept in the NBA Finals, by crushing the Celtics 122-84 on Friday.
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The Finals are not over, thanks to one of the worst beatings in these instances.
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The victory margin of 38 points represented the third worst blowout in an NBA Finals game in history, only behind the 96-54 that Chicago handed to Utah in 1998 and the 131-92 achieved by the Celtics against the Lakers in 2008.
The worst beating the Celtics had suffered before Friday in the Finals dated back to 1984 when they lost 137-104 to the Lakers.
This one was worse. At times, much worse.
The 48 points by which Dallas led, represent the worst deficit the Celtics have faced all season.
The philosophy of the Mavericks' coach
“It’s pretty simple. We don’t have to complicate things. It’s not surgery. Our team was ready to play. The opponents were ready to celebrate but we gave them an argument. We were desperate and we have to keep playing like that,” said Mavs coach Jason Kidd.
Kyrie Irving added 21 points to help the Mavs survive in the fourth game. The two stars of Dallas had the luxury of leaving at the end of the third quarter, when the Celtics had no chance of winning this match.
Dallas dominated the game from start to finish. They took a 13-point lead after just one quarter, extended it to 26 at halftime, and even managed to push it to 48 in the third period, before both teams signed the scorecards and sent their respective substitutes to play.
"They try to close the door, but the hardest thing in this league is doing it against a group that has nothing to lose. They saw that tonight," Kidd explained.
How long has it been since the Celtics last lost?
It was Boston's first defeat in five weeks. The Celtics had won 10 consecutive postseason games, the longest streak in franchise history. Additionally, Boston missed the chance to become the first team in history to win the conference finals and the Finals with 4-0 sweeps.
Jayson Tatum scored 15 points, Sam Hauser added 14, while Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday finished with 10 each for the Celtics.
Anyway, this Monday in Game 5, at their TD Garden, the Celtics have the opportunity to become the first team in NBA history to win 18 titles. It would be historic... just like the beating they received one spring night in Dallas.