Dallas, TX

Starting 5, June 15: Dallas forces Game 5 in NBA Finals

Published

5 months ago

June 15, 2024

Press Room

When you send the series back to Boston.

THE LINEUP 🏀

What’s inside today’s edition?

Start To Finish: Dallas opened the game hot and never cooled off in a 38-point win

Luka Leads The Way: After fouling out of Game 3, Doncic drove Dallas in Game 4

Dallas Defense: How the Mavs held the Celtics to a season-low 84 points

All-Access: Go behind-the-scenes from Game 4 with our on-the-ground correspondents

Game 4 Frames: Some of our favorite photos from Friday in Dallas

BUT FIRST … ⏰

Game 4 and the remaining Finals schedule …

It’s a travel day as the NBA Finals shift back to Boston for Game 5 on Monday night. Stay tapped in on the NBA App for the latest news and exclusive access all weekend.

Trivia Time: Test your knowledge with today’s NBA Play: Expert Mode challenge, and list the five all-time leaders in Finals 3-pointers made.

1. MAVS DOMINATE FROM START TO FINISH

In Game 3, Dallas got off to a hot start, building a 13-point lead midway through the 1st quarter before the Mavs cooled off, and the Celtics regained their poise and got back in the game.

In Game 4, with their season on the line, the Dallas hot start never stopped.

Their 13-point lead after the 1st quarter became 20, then 30, then 40, before ending with the third-highest margin of victory in Finals history (+38) in a 122-84 win over Boston. | Recap

More History: Dallas became only the third team in the past 70 years to force a Game 5 when trailing 3-0 in the NBA Finals. The others? The 1996 Sonics and 2017 Cavs
Streak Snappers: Dallas’ win snaps Boston’s 10-game Playoff win streak and hands the Celtics their first road loss this postseason
Setting The Tone: Dallas’ stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving were determined not to see their season end on Friday. They combined to outscore the Celtics by themselves in the 1st quarter (22-21) and the 1st half (36-35) | Best of Luka & Kyrie in Game 4
The Stars Had Help: The rest of the Mavs combined for 25 points on 57.1% shooting in the 1st half. They shot 4-of-6 from 3, including the first-ever NBA 3 by Dereck Lively II

Lively II (11 pts, 12 reb) posted his second straight double-double, joining Magic Johnson (5x in 1980) as the only players to record multiple double-doubles in the NBA Finals before turning 21 years old.

🗣️ Luka On The Full-Team Effort: “It’s big. It’s basketball. It’s five people on the floor. So that’s huge for us. Everybody played with a lot of energy. That’s how we got to do it. We got to think the same way in Game 5 in Boston.”

At the half, the Mavs had doubled their 13-point first-quarter lead to 26 and still didn’t let up after the break. Just 48 hours earlier, the Mavs had gone on a 22-2 run in just five minutes to erase a 20+ point lead, so they kept their foot on the gas.

After back-to-back dunks by Lively II made it a 36-point game with 3:18 left in the 3rd quarter, Boston coach Joe Mazzulla pulled his starters and emptied his bench
The Mavs bench kept it rolling. Tim Hardaway Jr, who was scoreless on 0-of-7 shooting in 27 Finals minutes entering Game 4, hit five 3s in the 4th quarter as Dallas’ lead peaked at 48 points

When the final buzzer sounded, the Mavs had racked up 122 points (after being held under 100 in each of the first three games) and had only allowed 84 points — tying Boston’s lowest mark under Mazzulla.

Teams often preach playing for 48 minutes. With their season on the line, the Mavs delivered one of the most dominant 48 minutes in NBA Finals history.

🗣️ Coach Jason Kidd In The Locker Room Pregame: “This is what we live for. This is what it’s all about. Someone wrote it [on the whiteboard] ‘We gotta believe’ and ‘Why not us?’ We go to Boston tomorrow, I hope you guys all packed.”

2. LUKA LEADS MAVS TO SEASON-SAVING WIN

All Luka Doncic could do was watch.

After he and the Mavs had cut a 21-point lead down to three in Game 3, Luka fouled out on a block/charge call with 4:12 left in the game
And while Kyrie Irving cut the lead to one, the Mavs never regained the lead and fell into a 3-0 hole in the Finals

With the Mavs’ season on the line 48 hours later, how would the scoring champ respond to lowest-scoring game in a month, and his first Playoff foul-out?

The answer: quickly.

Doncic hit three of Dallas’ first four buckets of the game, finishing the 1st quarter with 13 points as the Mavs built a lead of the same amount — on the way to a game-high 29 pts with 5 reb, 5 ast & 3 stl.

Luka and the Mavs kept rolling in the 2nd quarter, with Doncic adding another dozen points to give him 25 at the half, along with four assists and three rebounds.

Third Youngest: Luka (25 years, 107 days) became the third-youngest player to score 25+ in the 1st half of a Finals game. The only players younger? Hakeem Olajuwon (23y, 125d in 1986) and current teammate Kyrie Irving (25y, 78d in 2017)
Fourth Ever: Luka joined LeBron James (2x), Larry Bird and Nikola Jokic as the only players to accumulate at least 600 pts, 150 reb, 150 ast in a single Playoff run
🗣️ Kidd: “I thought he was great … I thought he played his game tonight. He didn’t force anything. … We talked about it, we got to play faster. I thought he set the pace for us tonight.”

Luka added four more points, two steals and one half-court alley-oop dime to Daniel Gafford in the 3rd quarter before exiting the game for good with 1:29 left in the period.

Once again, all Luka could do was watch. This time for the final 13:29 of game time, after he and the Mavs had built a historic lead (+48), accomplishing their mission to keep the season alive.

First Step: The Mavs are trying to become the first team in 157 tries (15 in the Finals) to win a best-of-seven series after trailing 3-0
Next Steps: Of the previous 156 teams to go down 3-0, only 15 have forced Game 6 (which Dallas will try to do in Boston on Monday). And only four have forced Game 7
🗣️ Luka On His Walk-Off: “Still believe.”

3. DALLAS DEFENSE STANDS UP

In the regular season, the Celtics boasted an offensive rating of 122.2, the highest in the play-by-play era (since 1997-98).

In Game 4 of the Finals, the Mavericks held the Cs to a season-low 84 points with one of the best defensive efforts by any team this season.

Blitzing Boston from the start, the Mavs entered the break up 61-35, marking the fewest points Boston has scored in a half since Joe Mazzulla took over as head coach.

Leading the way? The scoring champ and the Mavs’ 20-year-old rook.

Setting The Tone: Lively II led all players with 20+ min in DefRtg, at 81.4, with Luka second at 85.7
Cool Off: After Boston shot 46.4% in the first three games of the Finals, the Mavs held the Cs to just 36.2% in Game 4
Playoff Low: That field goal percentage represents Boston’s lowest of the postseason and its second-lowest since December 2022
Tough 2s: Dallas held Boston to 38.5% shooting from inside the arc, an 18.9% drop-off from its series average entering the night (57.4%)
Owning The Inside: The Mavs held the Celtics to 58.8% shooting in the restricted area and 18.8% in the rest of the paint — down 11% and 24.8% from their Playoff averages, respectively
Limited Helpers: Boston was held to 18 dimes after averaging 26 assists through three games

All-Around Effort: Boston entered the night with a 113.6 offensive rating in the Finals, but Dallas held that mark to 87.5 in Game 4.

Points In the Paint: The Mavs held the Celtics to 26 points in the paint, their second-fewest of the season and 14 fewer than their series average going into Game 4
Hustle: Boston averaged 12.3 fast break points and 8.7 offensive boards in the first three games of the Finals, but Dallas limited those marks to a series-low six and four, respectively
Defense ➡️ Offense: Dallas is the seventh team in the last 20 Finals to hold their opponent under 40% from the field while shooting better than 50%
🗣️ Coach Mazzulla On Dallas: “Their multiple efforts … every time we went in for a layup, they had multiple guys contest … They just did a great job flying around on the defensive end.”

4. ALL-ACCESS PASS TO GAME 4

Game 4 Like Never Before: Warriors rookie Brandin Podziemski and Content Creator Jenna Bandy served as NBA Correspondents for Game 4 in Dallas, where they experienced the electricity of the Finals.

🗣️ Podz: “I think Dallas is going to win tonight … It’s been a great environment, and it’s something I can’t wait to experience.”
🗣️Jenna: “Energy is everything … These Dallas fans just really showed me that if you believe, you can achieve.”

Dive deeper with Podz, Jenna and our All-Access team, from watching shootaround alongside 2024 NBA Draft prospect Alex Sarr to hearing Luka’s immediate thoughts after the win.

5. OUR FAVORITE FRAMES FROM GAME 4

Source link

Related Topics:Featured Starting 5: June 15

Click to comment

Dallas, TX

Dallas game warden investigating coyote shootings in Lochwood neighborhood

Published

4 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Dallas game warden investigating coyote shootings in Lochwood neighborhood

DALLAS – Authorities are investigating whether a vigilante is shooting coyotes in a Dallas neighborhood.

Dallas Animal Services says it’s investigating three coyote deaths since August. Two of them were shot.

Authorities don’t know who is doing it, but people who live in the area are rattled.

Emily Levin is still left disturbed by the dead coyote found in her front yard last week.

“Wednesday, this dead coyote appeared in our front yard on the border between our yard and our neighbor’s yard,” she recalled.

Levin says a city wildlife investigator immediately came out to her Lochwood neighborhood and revealed the coyote had been shot.

“And I asked her if she knew if it had been shot in our front yard or it had walked. And she said it was hard to tell, which is not reassuring,” Levin said.

DAS tells FOX 4 it’s been investigating a possible trend since August.

Three coyotes have been found dead in Lochwood. Two were shot. The third was disposed of before the city arrived on scene.

“Like, don’t go shooting a gun in a neighborhood!” Levin said.

The neighborhood has been shaken for weeks.

Just a few streets over from Levin, a homeowner sent FOX 4 surveillance video from late October where you can hear gunfire. You can hear glass shattering at the end.

One bullet went through a home’s front window near Easton Road and East Lake Highlands Drive. No one was hurt.

More recently, the same homeowner said he heard gunshots again Sunday afternoon. Dallas police say they responded, but no one was injured.

It’s unknown if these incidents are related to the coyote shootings.

However, the Dallas County game warden confirmed they are investigating and are asking for all surveillance video to be handed over.

Levin has a warning to anyone disrupting the peace in her neighborhood.

“Don’t bring that to our neighborhood. It’s too nice of a place for that,” she said.

The Dallas County game warden couldn’t reveal too much information on the investigation but wanted to remind people the coyotes in urban areas are being monitored.

At this point, no coyotes in the Lochwood area have posed a threat to humans.

Source link

Dallas, TX

Where to find the best Christmas lights in Dallas-Fort Worth

Published

12 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Where to find the best Christmas lights in Dallas-Fort Worth

article

Gather your family, grab some hot cocoa, and explore the best Christmas light displays across DFW. This list includes free attractions and festive events with admission fees:

Christmas Lights Show:

Dallas Zoo Lights

A holiday tradition is back: Dallas Zoo Lights returns

The Dallas Zoo is now exploding with lights, lanterns, and new immersive experiences. FOX 4’s Shannon Murray gives us an inside look at the festivities:

When: Nov. 22 – Jan. 5
Where: Dallas Zoo
What: Enjoy illuminated zoo animals, creative displays, and larger-than-life decorations. Perfect for kids and families.
Cost: Tickets start at $16.

Dallas Zoo Lights Presented by Reliant

Holiday at the Arboretum

12 Days of Christmas event returns to Dallas Arboretum

This year, Dallas Arboretum is celebrating ’10 years’ of it’s celebrated ’12 Days of Christmas’ event. The tradition for many North Texas families returns tonight.

When: Nov. 13 – Jan. 5
Where: Dallas Arboretum
What: Thousands of lights and elaborate decorations set the scene for this cherished Dallas holiday tradition. Activities and food add to the festive atmosphere.
Cost: Tickets range from $13 to $37, depending on age and time of visit.

Holiday at the Arboretum

Lightscape

When: Nov. 22 – Jan. 5
Where: Fort Worth Botanic Garden
What: Millions of lights transform the gardens into a magical, glowing winter wonderland. Seasonal treats and warm beverages are available for purchase.
Cost: Tickets range from $12 to $30.

Lightscape

Tianyu Lights Festival

Magical Forest Tianyu Lights Festival in Grand Prairie

Vibrant colors everywhere you look at the Tianyu Lights Festival… The spectacular festival has opened in North Texas and will close January 19th.

When: Nov. 8 – Jan. 19
Where: Grand Prairie, Texas
What: Stroll through a magical forest filled with vibrant, handcrafted light displays. Food and drinks are available for purchase.
Cost: Admission ranges from $16 to $33, depending on the day. Parking costs $10 online or $15 onsite.

https://tianyuculture.us/dallas/

Drive-thru Christmas lights:

Burkman Holiday Home (Featured on The Great Christmas Light Fight)

Where: 3809 Hazelhurst Drive, Frisco
Cost: Free.

Deerfield Christmas Lights

Where: West Plano, between Preston Road and Coit Road.
Cost: Free.

Highland Park

Where: Enter the neighborhood at Armstrong Parkway and Preston Road.
Cost: Free. Horse-drawn carriage rides are available for $175.

Karr Family Light Show

Where: 5901 Pacers Lane, Fort Worth (6–10 p.m.)
Cost: Free.

Lights on Trail Creek

Where: 4941 Trail Creek Drive, Fort Worth. Tune your radio to 99.9 FM for synchronized music.
Cost: Free.

Interlochen Christmas Lights

Where: Start at Randol Mill Road and Westwood Drive in North Arlington.
Cost: Free.

Holiday Lights

Southwestern Boulevard

Where: University Park, between Central Expressway and the Dallas North Tollway.
Cost: Free.

Timberhollow Circle

Where: A cul-de-sac in Lake Highlands with a “12 Days of Christmas” display. Surrounding homes are also decorated.
Cost: Free.

Vitruvian Park

Where: Vitruvian Park in Addison (Nov. 23 – Jan. 1)
Cost: Free.

https://visitaddison.com/events/vitruvian-park/

Source link

Dallas, TX

Texas AG Sues Dallas Over Marijuana Decriminalization Measure

Published

20 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Texas AG Sues Dallas Over Marijuana Decriminalization Measure

New Law – Legalize Marijuana. Wooden judge hammer. Cannabis legalization as medical drug. CBD … [+] healing social issue concept. Legality of cannabis, legal and illegal cannabis.

getty

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against the City of Dallas and local officials, targeting a ballot measure that decriminalizes marijuana-related offenses and bars police from enforcing state drug laws.

The announcement of this legal action, made last week, is related to Proposition R, also known as the “Dallas Freedom Act,” which was passed in November with nearly 67% approval.

The measure decriminalizes possession of less than four ounces of marijuana and restricts the Dallas Police Department from making arrests or issuing citations for such offenses, except in cases involving larger felony investigations. It also bars officers from using the odor of marijuana as probable cause for searches or seizures.

As of today, in Texas, possession of up to 2 ounces of marijuana is classified as a Class B misdemeanor, carrying a penalty of up to 180 days in jail and a maximum fine of $2,000. Possession of more than 2 ounces but less than 4 ounces is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to 1 year in jail and a maximum fine of $4,000.

The state contends that Proposition R is preempted by Texas state law, including the Health and Safety Code – which criminalizes the possession of marijuana – and the Local Government Code – which obligates municipalities to enforce state drug laws fully. The lawsuit alleges that the charter amendment is unconstitutional under the Texas Constitution to the extent that local laws may not conflict with state statutes.

The lawsuit also argues that Proposition R bars Dallas police from enforcing misdemeanor marijuana possession laws, utilizing the odor of marijuana as probable cause, or expending city funds to test marijuana substances with exceptions in those narrowly defined cases where the alleged offense is a violent or high-priority narcotics felony.

Therefore, the state asked the court to nullify Proposition R, arguing Dallas exceeded its legal authority. It also asks the court to stop city officials and police from enforcing the measure and to ensure state drug laws are followed.

Earlier this year, Texas AGl Paxton also sued the cities of Austin, San Marcos, Killeen, Elgin, and Denton for adopting amnesty and non-prosecution policies that he claims violate state laws on marijuana possession and distribution.

Marijuana in Texas

Texas has not yet legalized marijuana for recreational use but has a medical marijuana program in place under the Texas Compassionate Use Act, which passed in 2015. It also legalized the production and sale of industrial hemp and CBD products in 2019, following the Farm Bill of 2018, which legalized hemp, defined as marijuana having no more than 0.3% THC, by separating it from marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act.

Currently, 24 U.S. states have legalized recreational use of marijuana, and 38 states for medical use.

In the November presidential election, several marijuana-related ballot measures were proposed, but most failed.

In Florida, nearly 56% voted “yes” to Amendment 3, which allowed adult-use marijuana; however, it did not meet the required 60% threshold to amend the state constitution.

Similar ballot measures in North Dakota and South Dakota each failed to achieve majority support.

Arkansas voters could have expanded the state’s medical marijuana program, but the state’s Supreme Court ruled – prior to this election – that the votes could not be counted.

The marijuana legalization measure that passed was in Nebraska alone, making it the 39th state to legalize marijuana for medical purposes, though its validity is still being challenged in court.

Meanwhile, in Texas, a lawmaker has recently filed a bill to legalize and establish a regulated market for the production and sale of recreational marijuana. However, past marijuana bills have stalled in the conservative Texas legislature, setting up the next session as potentially crucial for marijuana policy reform in the state.

Source link