BOSTON — Despite losing by the third-biggest margin in a game in NBA Finals history on Friday night, the Boston Celtics are still in good position to raise their 18th banner when they host the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5.
Tipoff from Boston on Monday night is at 8:30 p.m. Eastern.
The Mavericks blew out the Celtics in Game 4, 122-84, to avoid the sweep. Luka Doncic had a game-high 29 points for the Mavericks and Kyrie Irving added 21. Boston’s lead in the series is now 3-1 as the Celtics look to win another title on their home floor on Monday night.
Here’s a preview and the odds heading into Game 5:
What: Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals. Celtics lead the series, 3-1.
When: Tonight, 8:30 p.m.
Where: TD Garden, Boston.
TV: ABC.
Moneyline: Dallas +220; Boston -270.
Spread: Celtics -6.5 at -115; Mavericks +6.5 at -105.
Over/under: 209.5.
What they’re saying
Celtics guard Jaylen Brown:
“I think we are ready for Game 5. I think that’s the best answer that I’ve got. I think that we’re ready. We’re at home. And we’re looking forward to it.”
Celtics forward Jayson Tatum on the Game 4 loss:
“We always say you lose by two or you lose by 30, they all count the same. ... We’re not making any excuses. We need to be better, and we will.”
Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving:
″(We are) just thinking about the goal that we have in front of us as best we can, and try not to get tired of everyone talking about the history that has not been made...We got a chance to accomplish one of our goals, which is to make it back to Boston. We have another goal in front of us, and that’s to make it back to Dallas.”
Mavericks forward Luka Doncic:
“Like I said in the beginning of this series, it’s the first to four. And we’re going to believe until the end. We’re just going to keep going. I have big belief in this team that we can do it.”
- Information from the AP was used in this post.