The Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks 106 to 99 to position themselves one game away from winning the 2024 NBA Championship at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas on 12 June 2024. Dallas fell but the fans cannot complain they did not give it all during what was a mesmerizing game for fans of both teams. Most Dominican fans are rooting for Boston with Dominican Al Horford on that team.
If Boston wins, it will be that team’s 18th championship. The Boston Celtics would then be the team to have the most wins in the NBA, one more than the Los Angeles Lakers. In the history of the NBA Finals, no team has come from behind to win the best-of-seven tournament. Dallas would have to win the next four games.
In a more than exciting game, both teams grabbed padded leads only to see these discounted by the opponent. For instance, Dallas took the lead in the first quarter. After a 20-2 run by Dallas, Boston would rebound and nudge a lead and then add to this. But Dallas fought back discounting a Boston lead of 21 at the start of the fourth to the excitement of the home crowd.
Boston would only lead by 2 points with 1:20 minutes remaining towards the end of the game. In that fourth quarter, Dallas star player, Luka Doncic was fouled out and sent to watch the game from the bench.
Boston is now but one game away from winning the NBA Final and the Larry O’Brien Trophy, as well as a significant amount of prize money and other perks. Game 4 will be played on Friday, 14 June 2024 in Dallas.
Sports commentator Doris Burke had praise for Al Horford and observed at the end of the second quarter: “Old man Al… He’s out there doing it.” She commended the 38-year old Dominican player for his performance in Game 3. Horford was the first to score in the game and later placed several three-pointers, and had the difficult task of keeping Doncic under check. Horford played to deliver balls to Celtic greats Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown who got the job done for the team.
Horford is playing in his second NBA Finals in his 17-year long NBA career. It would be the coveted championship to crown his legendary career in basketball. Horford will have earned the championship. He was on the floor for most of the game as the Celtics’ big man and key defense player and scorer Kristaps Porzingis is out with a serious tendon injury suffered in game 2. The sports press coverage of the game commended the Boston bench for carrying the game. Porzingis had starred in the first two games of the finals. Porzingis previously had been out and was not available to help Boston qualify for the Eastern Conference playoffs.
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Diario Libre
Last minutes of the game
Game 3
Game 3
Pregame analysis
13 June 2024