The Dallas Mavericks decimated the Boston Celtics 122-84 in Game Four of the NBA Finals, marking the third-largest margin of victory in Finals history. Luka Doncic led the Mavericks with 29 points before being benched late in the third quarter, silencing critics after his previous game complaints. Kyrie Irving added 21 points against his former team, helping Dallas avoid a sweep and reducing their series deficit to 3-1.
The Celtics struggled from the start, facing a 61-35 halftime deficit they couldn’t overcome. Boston’s stars, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, had a dismal shooting night, combining for just 7-22 from the field. Tatum led the team with 15 points, while Brown managed only 10. Derrick White and Jrue Holiday also had off nights, contributing just six and ten points, respectively.
Dallas capitalized on Boston’s poor shooting, with the Mavericks hitting 50% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc, compared to Boston’s 36% and 34%. The lopsided defeat ranks as one of the most significant blowouts in NBA Finals history, behind only the Chicago Bulls’ 42-point win over the Utah Jazz in 1998 and Boston’s 39-point victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in 2008.
The Mavericks’ victory ensures they avoid their first-ever Finals sweep, but they still face an uphill battle as the series shifts back to TD Garden in Boston. No team has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit in the history of the NBA Playoffs, adding to the challenge ahead for Dallas.
