The NBA Finals has only once ended in a sweep (2018) since the Boston Celtics won their last championship in 2008. ESPN Analytics projects another one to wrap up on Friday.
Boston has gained a 3-0 advantage in a relatively anticlimactic series against the Dallas Mavericks. ESPN Bet lists the Western Conference champions as a 1.5-point favorite to send the series back to TD Garden.
However, ESPN’s Matchup Predictor forecasts another Celtics triumph. Boston has a 59 percent probability of securing its 18th title in Game 4.
Both of Boston’s superstars came to play Wednesday night. Jayson Tatum delivered 31 points, six rebounds, and five assists, and Jaylen Brown scored 30 points with eight boards and assists each.
According to Statitudes.com’s Justin Kubatko, Tatum and Brown have each scored at least 25 points in 18 playoff games. The duo surpassed a Celtics record previously held by Larry Bird and Kevin McHale.
Kubatko also noted that Boston is the first team to ever score 100 points and allow fewer than 100 points in the first three NBA Finals games.
Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving combined for 62 points on Wednesday, but the Celtics withstood a fourth-quarter rally to prevail at American Airlines Arena. The Mavericks lost steam after Doncic fouled out with nearly four minutes remaining.
The Celtics didn’t have Kristaps Porzingis for their Game 3 victory. Shortly after returning from a calf strain, the center left Sunday’s win early with an unrelated leg injury.
Per Celtics Nation’s Daniel Donabedian, head coach Joe Mazzulla said Thursday that Porzingis is “fighting like hell to play.” Although Porzingis is feeling better than he did before Wednesday’s game, Mazzulla cautioned that it’s still up to the medical staff to determine if he can compete.
ABC will televise Game 4 on Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET.