Mavericks and Celtics Set for Game 5 Clash
The Dallas Mavericks take on the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on Monday night in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. The Celtics lead the series, 3-1.
The Mavericks (12-9 postseason) were down to their last out Friday night on their home floor, but Dallas managed to answer the call in spectacular fashion by forging a 122-84 series-saving rout of the Celtics to send the series back to Boston. Luka Doncic led the way with 29 points, adding five rebounds, five assists and three steals. Kyrie Irving furnished 21 points, six assists and four rebounds. Tim Hardaway totaled 15 points, three rebounds and one assist. Dereck Lively generated an 11-point, 12-rebound double-double that included one steal. Dante Exum supplied 10 points, two rebounds and one steal.
The Mavericks will likely list Doncic (thoracic contusion) as probable for Monday's game.
The Celtics' (15-3 postseason) shocking defeat saw them partly fall victim to a snowball effect of desperate and exceedingly sharp play from the Mavericks and atypically inefficient performances on their end, with Boston shooting just 36.3 percent and committing 13 turnovers. With the starters' minutes limited due to game script, Jayson Tatum led the way with 15 points, complementing them with five rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal. Sam Hauser registered 14 points and four boards. Payton Pritchard compiled 11 points, three rebounds and three assists. Jrue Holiday and Jaylen Brown finished with matching 10-point, two-assist efforts, with Holiday adding three rebounds.
The Celtics are likely to list Kristaps Porzingis (lower leg) as questionable or probable for Monday's game.
Monday's game marks the seventh game between the teams since the start of the regular season. The Celtics have won five of the first six meetings.
The Mavericks (12-9 postseason) were down to their last out Friday night on their home floor, but Dallas managed to answer the call in spectacular fashion by forging a 122-84 series-saving rout of the Celtics to send the series back to Boston. Luka Doncic led the way with 29 points, adding five rebounds, five assists and three steals. Kyrie Irving furnished 21 points, six assists and four rebounds. Tim Hardaway totaled 15 points, three rebounds and one assist. Dereck Lively generated an 11-point, 12-rebound double-double that included one steal. Dante Exum supplied 10 points, two rebounds and one steal.
The Mavericks will likely list Doncic (thoracic contusion) as probable for Monday's game.
The Celtics' (15-3 postseason) shocking defeat saw them partly fall victim to a snowball effect of desperate and exceedingly sharp play from the Mavericks and atypically inefficient performances on their end, with Boston shooting just 36.3 percent and committing 13 turnovers. With the starters' minutes limited due to game script, Jayson Tatum led the way with 15 points, complementing them with five rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal. Sam Hauser registered 14 points and four boards. Payton Pritchard compiled 11 points, three rebounds and three assists. Jrue Holiday and Jaylen Brown finished with matching 10-point, two-assist efforts, with Holiday adding three rebounds.
The Celtics are likely to list Kristaps Porzingis (lower leg) as questionable or probable for Monday's game.
Monday's game marks the seventh game between the teams since the start of the regular season. The Celtics have won five of the first six meetings.