Dallas, TX

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

Published

4 days 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

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Dallas, TX

‘Juneteenth freed the people’: Opal Lee leads hundreds on freedom walk through Dallas

Published

51 mins ago

June 19, 2024

Press Room

‘Juneteenth freed the people’: Opal Lee leads hundreds on freedom walk through Dallas

Opal Lee walked outside and waved. That was all it took. Crowds clamored for a glimpse. People shouted her name and snapped photographs as television crews aimed their cameras at her.

Wearing sunglasses, a blue T-shirt and red tennis shoes, Lee led hundreds Wednesday on her annual Opal’s Walk for Freedom, a 2.5-mile trek to celebrate Juneteenth.

This year’s walk moved from Lee’s hometown of Fort Worth to Dallas, but the 97-year-old “grandmother of Juneteenth” drew the same big crowds and adoration. Supporters wore T-shirts and carried signs bearing her image, and many clapped and waved as she walked by.

Juneteenth recognizes the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston to inform enslaved people of their freedom, about 2½ years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

“July 4 freed the land,” Lee said before the walk. “But Juneteenth freed the people.”

Opal Lee, the Grandmother of Juneteenth, center, walks through Fair Park with her granddaughter Dione Sims, second from left and hundreds of participants during 2024 Opal’s Walk for Freedom honoring the U.S. federal holiday, Juneteenth, Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in Dallas. (Chitose Suzuki / Staff Photographer)

Black Americans, especially in Texas, have celebrated the day for decades, but interest in the holiday skyrocketed in recent years. In 2016, Lee made her way from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C., walking 2½ miles in several cities along the way to represent the 2½ years it took for news of emancipation to reach Galveston. In 2021, President Joe Biden, with Lee at his side, signed into law a bill declaring Juneteenth a national holiday.

Growing up, Tiffany Weaver, 45, said she celebrated the holiday with friends and family eating barbecue and playing outside. This year she joined Lee’s walk, which began at the African American Museum in Dallas’ Fair Park.

Weaver, who lives in Dallas, said she loves that Juneteenth is now celebrated on a larger scale.

“We weren’t free until we were all free,” she said. “This has been a long time coming.”

Stanton Brown, 32, of McKinney, who brought his infant and 4-year-old daughters to the walk, said he long knew about Juneteenth but only began celebrating the day in recent years.

“Freedom is really a mindset,” Brown said. “I want to honor the people who came before me and fought for freedom. I’m here because of them.”

Opal Lee, the Grandmother of Juneteenth, speaks to participants in front of African American... — Opal Lee, the Grandmother of Juneteenth, speaks to participants in front of African American Museum in Fair Park after they finished walking in 2024 Opal’s Walk for Freedom honoring the U.S. federal holiday, Juneteenth, Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in Dallas. (Chitose Suzuki / Staff Photographer)

As they walked, marchers clasped hands and some sang “This Little Light of Mine.” Parents pushed young children in strollers or carried them on shoulders, and Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders walked alongside marching band drummers and members of a Girl Scouts troop.

Traditional African dancers and drummers lined the route and walked next to Lee, flanked by Fort Worth’s Miss Juneteenth and a cluster of police officers.

Many fanned themselves from the heat, which hovered in the 80s for most of the walk, cooler than in past years.

Lee, who grew up in Texas, has recalled celebrating Juneteenth by picnicking with her family, first in Marshall and later in Fort Worth. In 1939, when she was 12, a mob of white supremacists set fire to her family’s home in Fort Worth and destroyed it. Lee and her family were forced to flee. The event shaped her life as an educator and activist.

Lee received a new home this month, courtesy of the community, on the same lot.

This year’s walk moved to Dallas to highlight the role Juneteenth has on other U.S. cities, Lee’s granddaughter, Dione Sims said. Cities around the world planned their own walks, including Los Angeles, Chicago, New York City and Tokyo. Next year, the march will return to Fort Worth before heading to Washington, D.C., in 2026.

On Wednesday, Lee, who rode in a golf cart for part of the walk, said her work is far from over, and she urged supporters to tackle homelessness and climate change.

“If people can be taught to hate, they can be taught to love,” she said. “We are all our brother’s keeper. It behooves us to act like it.”

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Dallas, TX

Cowboy Roundup: Best coaches in franchise history; worst 2024 contracts

Published

8 hours ago

June 19, 2024

Press Room

Cowboy Roundup: Best coaches in franchise history; worst 2024 contracts

The Dallas Cowboys made some roster moves on Tuesday. Unfortunately, it had nothing to do with the three big stars in need of new contracts. They were intriguing moves, however.

The team went back to the spring league well to sign former first-round pick Gareon Conley and All-UFL linebacker Will Harvey Jr.

In 2022, the Cowboys signed USFL MVP KaVontae Turpin, who made the Pro Bowl as a return specialist in his rookie season. Last year, the team signed kicker Brandon Aubrey, who bolstered the Cowboys’ kicking game and also made the Pro Bowl his rookie campaign.

We’ll have to see if they find the same success this time around. In the meantime, let’s check out some headlines from around Cowboys Nation that are making the rounds.

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Cowboys have had many high-profile, legendary coaches, with a handful having signature catchphrases and iconic moments.

Leading America’s Team is difficult because of the added stress and scrutiny of being in the constant spotlight, but a few have handled the pressure better than others.

Check out the top three coaches in Dallas Cowboys franchise history from InsideTheStar.com.

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Contracts and the Cowboys have been a big topic throughout the offseason, with star players Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Micah Parsons all lining up for new deals.

It highlight’s the team’s questionable approach to contracts. Often, they play the waiting game which puts them in desperate situations like they are currently in. Jerry Jones and company have also been known to make bad deals.

Here are the Cowboys’ five worst deals for 2024, according to The Cowboys Wire.

Ranking the Cowboys’ best and worst position groups for the 2024 season… Why the Dallas Cowboys should be optimistic for the 2024 season… Dak Prescott will be NFL’s first $60 million per year player, per insider… Dallas Cowboys trade options include former breakout receiver… Why the Dallas Cowboys should pay Micah Parsons now… Cowboys signing All-UFL linebacker with NFL experience… Dallas Cowboys sign former first-round pick for cornerback depth.

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Dallas, TX

Major changes may be headed for Dallas trash collection

Published

15 hours ago

June 19, 2024

Press Room

Major changes may be headed for Dallas trash collection

02:02

DALLAS — The way that trash is collected in Dallas could be undergoing a major change. City leaders are considering phasing out alley pickups in favor of curbside.

For around 100,000 Dallas homes, trash day means hauling bags into bins in their alley for pickup. But city leaders say it’s a practice that can be dangerous and costly. A proposed change would transition more collection from the alley to the curb.

Dallas alleys vary in length and condition. Some are only 8 feet wide, which makes it difficult, if not impossible, for sanitation trucks to get through.

City officials said the ideal alley width is 10 feet with a 15-foot right-of-way. About half of alleyway pickups are in alleys that are narrower than that.

The city said those alleys pose a danger of injury to sanitation crews and damage to city vehicles, utilities, and private property. They also said that the operating and labor costs of alley collections are higher than curbside ones.

Neighbors in the Hillcrest Forest community of North Dallas said they understand the concerns, but hope the wider alleys can maintain the status quo.

“I think that the infrastructure in this neighborhood supports the alley pickup,” said resident Debbi Stahl. “The homes here have these super long driveways, things like that, that I think would just be an inconvenience for most of the neighbors.”

“It’s a long pull to the front of the house, and quite often those cans are really heavy,” said resident Mark Pfeifer. “I can do it. But some of the neighbors who live around here are a lot older than I am, so I don’t actually know how they would do without someone else’s help.”

If it’s implemented, the transition to curbside collections would take about two years, starting with the narrowest alleys first.

Brooke Rogers

Brooke Rogers first joined the CBS 11 News Team in 2005 as a general assignment news reporter. As a 20-year veteran of TV news, she is proud to call North Texas home and to tell the stories that impact the community.

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