Boston beats Dallas in third NBA Finals game — 107-89
The Boston Celtics strengthened their lead in the Finals series by crushing the Dallas Mavericks on the road. Jayson Tatum scored 31 points, Luka Doncic answered with 27.
Boston crushed Dallas in the third NBA Finals game — 107-89
Main Event
On the night of February 4, 2026, on the court of the American Airlines Center in Dallas, the Boston Celtics took another confident step toward the championship title by crushing the home team Dallas Mavericks 107-89. This result allowed the Celtics to strengthen their lead in the Finals series, bringing the score to 3-0. Thus, Boston is one step away from winning its 18th championship in NBA history, which would be an absolute league record.
From the first minutes of the game, it was clear that Dallas was not going to give up the home game without a fight. The Mavericks started the game extremely aggressively, intending to use the advantage of the home crowd and bring intrigue back to the series. However, Boston, as in the first two games of the series, demonstrated incredible mental toughness and the ability to turn the game around. If the teams played almost evenly in the first quarter, by halftime the Celtics began to build a lead that turned into a rout in the second half.
The key moment of the third game was Boston's dominance in the third quarter. The Celtics won that period 34-23, allowing them to pull away to a lead that Dallas could not reduce. The visitors' defense was flawless, not allowing Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving to get going, while the offense worked like a well-oiled machine: Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown scored in turns, and the supporting players performed their roles 100%.
An important psychological moment was the end of the game, when Dallas made a last desperate attempt at a comeback. But Boston responded with a 20-5 run that finally removed all questions about the winner. The Celtics showed championship character: they did not waver under pressure, did not allow the opponent to get back into the game, and calmly closed out the game with a blowout victory.
After the game, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla compared his team's performance to a UFC fight. "If you've ever fought someone and thought you were about to win, you usually get hit. The closer you are to beating someone, the closer you are to losing," the coach said, explaining why his team never relaxed, even with a comfortable lead.
Details and Statistics
The final score of the game was 110-100 in favor of Boston — that was the result at the American Airlines Center. The teams showed different offensive efficiency: the Celtics made 47 of 96 field goals (49% accuracy), while the Mavericks could only hit 37 of 89 attempts (42%). The difference in three-point shooting also played a key role — the visitors made 13 of 39 three-pointers (33%), while the hosts made only 9 of 32 (28%).
Jayson Tatum scored 34 points in this game, making 13 of 22 field goals (59.1%) and 6 of 9 free throws. To his 34 points, the forward added 3 rebounds and 4 assists, becoming the true leader of the Celtics' offensive power. Jaylen Brown, often called the main contender for Finals MVP, also had an outstanding game, recording 39 points (11 of 21 from the field, 2 of 8 from three, 15 of 19 from the free-throw line). Moreover, Brown posted a double-double with 11 rebounds and 5 assists, and his plus-minus was a phenomenal +27.
Derrick White added 17 points (6 of 13 from the field, 5 of 12 from three), 7 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Jrue Holiday, despite a modest 6 points (2 of 12 from the field), was valuable for his defense and leadership. Interestingly, Boston's starting center Kristaps Porzingis did not play in this game, forcing the team to adjust its defensive schemes, but the Celtics handled the task brilliantly.
For the Dallas Mavericks, the main scorer was again Luka Doncic, who scored 27 points. The Slovenian superstar played 42 minutes and recorded a classic triple-double — adding 11 rebounds and 5 assists to his points. However, Doncic's efficiency was low: he made only 11 of 21 field goals (52.4%) and 2 of 8 from three (25%). The problem for the Mavericks was a lack of support from teammates — Kyrie Irving scored only 17 points on 6 of 13 shooting.
One of the main storylines of the game was Doncic's issues with the referees. At the 44th minute of the game, with 4 minutes and 12 seconds left before the final buzzer, the Slovenian point guard picked up his sixth foul and left the court. This episode essentially killed Dallas's last hope for a comeback. Moreover, both of his last fouls were controversial, and Doncic did not hide his disappointment after the game. "We couldn't play physical," the Slovenian said. "I don't know. I don't want to say anything. Come on, man."
Context and Significance
The victory in the third game put the Boston Celtics on the brink of a historic achievement. A 3-0 lead in the Finals series means the Celtics need just one more win to claim the championship title. Notably, in NBA history, no team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in the playoffs. Dallas finds itself in a psychologically devastating situation — even if the Mavericks win the fourth game, which would already be a feat, they would need to win three more games in a row, three of which would potentially be in Boston.
The main factor in the Celtics' success this season has been the synergy of the two leaders — Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. After the first Finals game, Dallas head coach Jason Kidd tried to sow discord in the opponent's camp by stating that Boston's best player was Brown, not Tatum. However, this psychological trick did not work: the Celtics players rose above any intrigue. In the third game, the "Jays" duo combined for 61 of the team's 110 points (over 55%), and they did so not at each other's expense but by interacting and complementing each other.
Another crucial aspect was Boston's defense, which continued to dominate even without injured center Kristaps Porzingis. The Latvian was sidelined before the Finals, and many experts predicted Dallas would have an advantage in the paint. However, the Celtics adjusted their defense and showed they can stop any opponent even without their key shot-blocker. Joe Mazzulla managed to build a system where every player, including point guards Derrick White and Jrue Holiday, can help on defense and block shots.
Finally, one cannot ignore the context of historical legacy. Currently, Boston and the Los Angeles Lakers each have 17 championship titles — an absolute NBA record. If the Celtics win the 2026 Finals, they will become the sole leaders in championships in league history. For a franchise that last won a title in 2008, this would be a triumph after a long, nearly twenty-year hiatus, and it would be a fitting crown for the work of general manager Brad Stevens, who built this powerful roster.
What's Next / Next Game Preview
The fourth game of the Finals series between the Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics will take place at the same venue, the American Airlines Center in Dallas, on the night of February 5-6, 2026. For the home team, this game will be a "do or die" situation — a win would allow them to continue the fight and send the series back to Boston, while a loss would mean the end of the season and a championship title for the Celtics.
Dallas needs to address several critical issues. First, they must rethink their offensive game plan. In the third game, the Mavericks relied too heavily on Doncic isolations, while teammates, including Kyrie Irving, did not get enough touches in key moments. Irving, who should be the second top scorer, scored only 17 points, which is clearly insufficient to counter Boston's offense.
Second, Jason Kidd needs to find a way to reduce the defensive pressure on Doncic. The Celtics actively "hunt" the Slovenian in every pick-and-roll, forcing him to expend energy on defense. This affects his offensive game and also leads to fouls, as happened at the end of the third game. "He carries a huge load on offense, and they use him in every pick-and-roll and isolation," Kidd commented. "We need him to be able to rest on offense while others take over."
Boston, for its part, will try to close out the series in Dallas. It is critically important for the Celtics not to let the opponent gain confidence. The mental state of Joe Mazzulla's team will be of great importance. "We have to keep fighting," Jayson Tatum said after the third game. "We can't relax." History knows cases where teams lost a series after a 3-0 lead (in other sports), and Boston will not entertain the thought that the Finals are already won.
— Editorial Team
