Boston, MA
Game 3 was harder than it should have been, but Banner 18 is an inevitability for the Celtics – The Boston Globe
We all know that no team in the history of the Association has recovered from a 3-0 deficit, so unless you think these Mavs are basketball’s answer to the 2004 Red Sox (Luka Doncic as Curt Schilling?), you can make arrangements for the parade.
The Celtics are 15-2 in these playoffs and will take a 10-game winning streak into Friday’s Game 4 in Texas. They are on the cusp of completing one of the most dominant seasons in NBA history. This will be Boston’s 18th championship, putting the C’s back ahead of the Lakers and their 17, and perhaps only the second time the Celtics have swept an NBA Finals. (Bill Russell and Co. did it to the Minneapolis Lakers in 1959.)
It’s almost official, Celtic fans: Seven years after Danny Ainge drafted Tatum to pair with Brown, the Jays are finally going to win a championship. They’ve been to the conference finals five times. This is their second NBA Finals. Now is their time.
When Game 3 was over, Tatum and Brown embraced on the court.
“I told him I was proud of him and he said the same thing,” reported Tatum.
Game 3 was played on the 13th anniversary of Dallas’s lone NBA championship, when Dallas coach Jason Kidd was a veteran guard for coach Rick Carlisle, and the 40th anniversary of Boston’s Game 7 victory over the Lakers in 1984 (a.k.a. Cedric Maxwell’s “Hop on my back!” game).
The Celtics trailed, 25-12, in the first quarter, cut it to 1 by intermission, then seemingly blew it open with a hail of threes late in the third. An emphatic Darryl Dawkins-like drive and slam by Brown in the closing seconds of the quarter made it 85-70 after three, and Boston’s lead swelled to 21 one minute into the fourth.
Incredibly, it was down to 93-92 with three and a half minutes left. Fortunately for Boston, Doncic (27 points) fouled out (via a blocking foul on Brown) with 4:12 left. Kidd challenged the play, but the call was upheld.
“We couldn’t play physical,” complained Doncic. “I don’t know . . . six fouls in the NBA Finals . . . C’mon man. Better than that.”
It was only the fourth time in Doncic’s NBA career that he fouled out of a game.
There was considerable pregame conversation regarding the shooting slumps of superstars Irving and Tatum. Irving endured two stink bombs in Boston, missing all eight of his threes, averaging a mere 14 points, and shooting 35 percent. Tatum shot 32 percent in the two games at home.
When Celtic coach Joe Mazzulla was asked if we are seeing the best version of JT, the ever-combative coach asked the reporter if he lived in Brazil or America. When the reporter stated Brazil, Mazzulla said, “That’s probably why you asked that question. None of the American ones did. They look at the lens differently . . . In America, nothing is ever good enough.”
OK. Swell, coach.
Tatum responded with a 13-point first quarter, his best of the series, and 20 in the first half.
On the other side, Irving came into the game unusually humble and contrite, telling reporters, “It’s my fault. I’m taking accountability for not playing particularly well.’’
He scored the first bucket of the night, 14 seconds in. Dallas went up, 9-2, and Mazzulla needed a timeout inside two minutes of play. The Celtics started 1 for 7 from three, and Xavier Tillman came in to replace Al Horford. Boston trailed by 13. It felt like they might be routed.
Not so. Sam Hauser came off the pine to hit a couple of threes and Tatum went off for 13, including a cherry-pick sneakaway, as Boston closed the first quarter with an 18-6 run to cut it to 31-30.
The Celtics led, 91-70, when Dallas went on a 22-2 run, capped on a basket by Irving. Unfortunately for Dallas, Doncic was gone. Boston’s lead proved simply too big to fail.
“You were going to expect a run from them because they had a 19-point [third] quarter,” said Mazzulla. “And just the type of shots they take alone, you knew they were going to make some kind of run.”
“It’s not over till it’s over. We just got to believe,” said Yogi Doncic. “Like I always say, it’s first to four. We’re going to stay together. We lose together, we win together.”
Message to Celtic fans: There’s still time to catch a flight to Dallas-Fort Worth and score tickets to Game 4. The Big D’s resale market should be pretty reasonable.
Pack your brooms.
Dan Shaughnessy is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at daniel.shaughnessy@globe.com. Follow him @dan_shaughnessy.
Boston, MA
Boston Celtics Star Jayson Tatum Made History In Hornets Game
Getty
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 01: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts in the first quarter during their game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on November 01, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
On Sunday night, the Boston Celtics played the Charlotte Hornets in North Carolina.
The Celtics won by a score of 114-99.
Boston Celtics Star Jayson Tatum Made History


GettyFOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – MARCH 26: Jayson Tatum, player of Boston Celtics looks on prior to the international friendly match between Brazil and France at Gillette Stadium on March 26, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Jayson Tatum finished the win with 32 points, five rebounds, eight assists and one block while shooting 12/23 from the field and 5/10 from three-point range in 31 minutes of playing time.
Tatum also made history during the game.
Celtics Stats wrote: “Jayson Tatum scored his 14,000th career point tonight at Charlotte, becoming the ninth player in franchise history to reach that mark.”


GettyBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MARCH 06: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the second quarter at TD Garden on March 06, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Tatum is now averaging 20.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.1 steals per contest while shooting 39.9% from the field and 32.3% from three-point range in 11 games this season.
Celtics Stats added: “Jayson Tatum recorded a season-high 32 points tonight at Charlotte. It marked his 16th career game with at least 30 points without committing a turnover – the most in franchise history.”


GettyCHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 02: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics dunks against the Charlotte Hornets during the second half of the game at Spectrum Center on November 02, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Celtics After Hornets Victory


GettyDETROIT, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 26: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on against the Detroit Pistons during the second quarter at Little Caesars Arena on October 26, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
With their win over the Hornets, the Celtics improved to 50-24 in 74 games, which has them as the second seed in the Eastern Conference.
They are in the middle of a three-game winning streak (and have won seven out of their last ten).
On the road, the Celtics have gone 24-13.
Following the Hornets, they will play their next game on Monday night when they visit the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena in Georgia.


GettyBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MARCH 08: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics talks with head coach Joe Mazzulla during the second half against the Los Angeles Lakers at TD Garden on March 08, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 111-101. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
With Tatum playing like himself, the Celtics will have a real chance to win their second title in three years.
They are coming off a year where they lost to Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks in the second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs.
Hornets After Boston Loss


GettyCHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 26: (R-L) LaMelo Ball #1 talks with Moussa Diabate #14 of the Charlotte Hornets in the second half against the New York Knicks during their game at Spectrum Center on March 26, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
The Hornets dropped to 39-36 in 75 games, which has them as the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference.
They are in the middle of a two-game losing skid (but have won seven out of ten).
Ben Stinar Ben Stinar has been covering the NBA for over seven years.
He has written for OnSI, Forbes, Amico Hoops, The Big Lead and had a podcast with former All-Star Jameer Nelson. More about Ben Stinar
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Boston, MA
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HERE’S (*WAY TO WATCH*) Minnesota Wild VS Boston Bruins Free LIVE 2026-03-29 Rose Bowl Parade 2026 live: Rose Bowl Parade 2026 look to seize control of thrilling Rose Bowl Parade 2026. Every team in the Rose Bowl Parade 2026 has two wins apiece as we go into the final two game weeks. Rose Bowl Parade 2026 will host Rose Bowl Parade 2026 at Live NHL mAtch Durban’s Kings Park Stadium with the Rose Bowl Parade 2026 a single point ahead of Rose Bowl Parade 2026 in the standings and just one behind leaders Rose Bowl Parade 2026.
Boston, MA
+)WAY TO WATCH Free Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals LIVE
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Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals LIVE GAME: Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals look to seize control of thrilling Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals. Every team in the Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals has two wins apiece as we go into the final two game weeks. Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals will host Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals at Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals Park Stadium with the Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals a single point ahead of Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals in the standings and just one behind leaders Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals.
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