Mavericks Struggle for Comeback
The Dallas Mavericks had high hopes of turning their NBA finals series against the Boston Celtics around last Wednesday. But those dreams quickly faded. In their home ground of the American Airlines Center, the Mavericks were hoping to bounce back from two straight game losses. But the first game in their home court ended in another defeat, landing the team in a 0-3 hole.
Luka Doncic’s Early Points Not Enough
Mavs’ star player Luka Doncic showed his metal by matching Celtic’s player Jayson Tatum’s first-quarter 13 points. Not to be outdone, Kyrie Irving also gave his best series performance, scoring 11 points in the second quarter and giving the Mavericks a slight edge at halftime.
However, despite Doncic’s early success, he got in foul trouble. A big blow came when Doncic exited the game after fouling out with over four minutes still remaining in the final quarter.
Third-Quarter Meltdown
The third quarter of the game ended up being the turning point with the Eastern Conference champions, the Celtics, overtaking the Mavericks by outscoring them 35-19. Losing Doncic in the final minutes and struggling to keep Irving contained, the Mavericks watched a possible win slip away.
Irving became a force to reckon with, scoring 35 points overall, a series high for him. This was a significant improvement from the first two games in Boston where he failed to make 20. Despite this commendable effort and Dallas finishing with just eight total turnovers, victory remained elusive.
Celtics Show Superior Performance
The Celtics duo of Tatum and Jaylen Brown played a significant role in their team’s victory, combining for a massive 61 points. On the Mavericks side, apart from Dereck Lively II, none had a significant gameplay impact.
The Mavericks had 11 players on the rotation, in contrast to the Celtics’ mere eight. However, the Celtics reserves nearly equaled their opponent’s total score. Unfortunately, for the third time in a row, the Mavericks failed to score over 100 points.
Learning from the Experience
Jason Kidd, the Mavericks’ head coach, said it was a learning experience for the team, many of whom have never experienced this stage of the finals. He emphasized that despite being down 3-0, Games 2 and 3 were better. However, he noted the need for other players to step up their game and make more shots.
Can the Mavericks Make a Historic Comeback?
For a team to win in the NBA playoffs after going 0-3 is unprecedented, but not impossible. Last season, the Celtics nearly achieved this feat, forcing a Game 7 against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. However, the Celtics learned from their past near-miss experience to keep any possible Dallas comeback at bay.
The Mavericks remained hopeful, with Doncic stating it’s not over until it’s over. He expressed his belief in their ability to turn around the series, emphasizing that “it’s first to four”. His positive attitude showed his team spirit, expressing that they win or lose together. Whether the Mavericks can channel this unity into a historic comeback remains to be seen.