NBA Finals: Celtics survive Mavericks comeback to take 3-0 series lead

Despite a nightmare fourth quarter that nearly saw them squander a 21-point lead, the Boston Celtics are one win from claiming a record 18th NBA championship.

Boston held off a spirited comeback attempt from the Dallas Mavericks to win Game 3 of the 2024 NBA Finals 106-99 and take a 3-0 lead, all but putting the series away in front of the American Airlines Center crowd in Dallas. No NBA team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit.

Game 4 is scheduled for Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET in Dallas (ABC).

The Mavericks entered the game with some reason for hope after Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis, one of Boston’s best players in Games 1 and 2, was ruled out due to a “rare” injury. That absence appeared to hurt Boston early on, as Dallas hammered the paint as it took an early 22-9 lead.