This was nothing less than a show of defiance by the Mavericks.
They were down 3-0 in the NBA Finals and everybody knows what that means.
But they did not go down on their home floor and suffer the indignity of the Boston Celtics celebrating on the Mavericks’ logo.
The 122-84 butt-whupping the Mavericks administered on Friday night showed that they, indeed, are a worthy adversary to the might Celtics, who won 14 more games in the regular season than the Mavericks and who had won 10 playoff games in a row before Friday.
Doing it again won’t be easy. Let alone doing it again and again and again to become the first NBA team in history to overcome a 3-0 series deficit.
But let’s first revel in the magic of Friday night. If ever there was a game that could cast doubt on a team up 3-0 in a playoff series, this was it.
The Mavericks hit first and hit often. And they never let the Celtics off the ropes. They led by as many as 48 points before settling for the 38-point margin. Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving didn’t have to move off the bench in the fourth quarter, but they did to cheer on their teammates, deep reserves who were getting a chance to be in on the action.
And while Luka and Kyrie did what superstars do, the poster kid for these Mavericks might really be a kid: 20-year-old Dereck Lively II.
Lively had 11 points and 12 rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench. It was his second double-double of the Finals, joining Magic Johnson as the only 20 year olds to accomplish multiple double-doubles in the Finals. His exuberance on the court and in talking about the proceedings is impressive.
Lively talks more like a grizzled veteran than a raw rookie.
“I’m not comfortable,” he said. “We got to have a lot more wins. We just got to replicate what we did in this game.”
Would that include reprising his three-point shot from the corner, the first one he’s made as a pro?
“If they leave me open in the corner, I’m going to get them up, for sure,” Lively said. “Luka is going to give me the ball. As soon as I shot it, he kind of jumped for joy when it went in. Just having that reaction from my teammates is amazing.”
Lively also gave credit to his mother, Kathy Drysdale, who passed away late in the regular season after a long battle with cancer.
“She helped me make it,” Lively said. “She’s going to help me make a lot more.”
Here’s a few other takeaways from the victory that got the Mavericks off the goose egg in the NBA Finals:
Strong numbers: OK, you want domination by the numbers? Here you go. The Mavericks have been marginally better than the Celtics in the paint throughout the series. But on Friday, it got ridiculous. They had a monstrous 60-26 advantage in the paint in Game 4. Add that on to a 16-2 advantage in second-chance points and no way the Mavericks were going to lose this game. The Celtics had only four offensive rebounds, two in each half. If there was any doubt about the importance of rebounding, particularly at this point in the playoffs, that should answer it. And, oh yes, the Mavericks also tacked on an 11-6 advantage in fast-break points.
De-fense, De-fense: That was their calling card, particularly in a first half when they stashed the game away. The Celtics shot just 29.7 percent in the half and scored just 35 points, or 10 more than Luka scored by himself. The Celtics had just 13 rebounds, or three more than Lively had by himself. The Celtics were a little better in the second half, shooting 41.9 percent. But by then the issue was settled.
Of-fense, Of-fense: The Mavericks averaged just 95.3 points in the first three games, failing to crack 100 points in any of them. Then they explode for 122 points.
Unexpected hope: Let’s face it: if the Mavericks are going to complete this remarkable rally from 3-0 down in the series, something that’s never been done before, they’re going to have to get meaningful contributions from a lot of people. That’s why the shooting of Tim Hardaway Jr. late in the game when the outcome was decided was important. He hit 5-of-7 three-pointers and while they were pressure-packed shots, they were in an NBA Finals game and they all count. If Hardaway can get on one of his famed hot streaks, the Mavericks could have a new weapon going into Game 5 in Boston. In addition, the work of Dante Exum was confidence-inspiring, both for him and the coaching staff. Either of them stepping up in future games could be enough to get the Mavericks over the hump.
X: @ESefko
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