Will the Mavericks Join the Celtics in the Finals?
As the NBA season reaches its climax, the Dallas Mavericks find themselves on the brink of securing a spot in the NBA Finals.
With a commanding 3-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Mavericks need just one more victory to seal their place and square off against the Boston Celtics who finished off a sweep of the Indiana Pacers on Monday night.
In the course of the confrontation, the duo Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic scored a combined 66 points, propelling the Dallas Mavericks to a pivotal moment in their quest for the NBA Finals. This dominant performance has placed them within striking distance, as they previously broke the Timberwolves’ home advantage with victories in Minneapolis for the first two games.
While the Mavericks’ progression seems almost inevitable, the anticipation around NBA Finals betting odds increases as fans and analysts alike begin to speculate on their potential showdown against the Celtics.
The third game in Dallas was a tightly contested battle, with the lead exchanging hands seven times in the last quarter. However, the stellar play by Doncic and Irving proved decisive in the crucial moments, outscoring the Timberwolves 12-3 in the final minutes. Doncic, who scored 33 points, noted the importance of staying focused: “We need one more game, but they have an amazing team, so nothing is over.” Additionally, his contributions included seven rebounds and five assists, while Irving, who also tallied 33 points, scored 14 of those in the decisive final quarter.
The Mavericks’ depth shined through as well, with PJ Washington contributing 16 points, including a critical three-pointer that gave Dallas a 107-104 lead with under four minutes remaining. On the opposing side, Anthony Edwards scored 26 points but was limited to just four in the final quarter, while Karl-Anthony Towns missed all four of his attempts in the closing minutes.
With no team ever overcoming a 3-0 deficit in a final-round series, the Mavericks are well-positioned to advance and square off with the Boston Celtics.