Mavs have ingredients for return

Mavericks guard Luka Dončić finished with 28 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in Game 5. He struggled from 3-point range and couldn’t get to the basket as easily as in Game 4.

(Smiley N. Pool/staff Photographer)

In loss to league’s best team, Dallas took step toward getting to top

18 Jun 2024 - The Dallas Morning News

MIKE CURTIS mike.curtis@dallasnews.com

BOSTON — The Mavericks’ underdog bid to win the NBA Finals as a No. 5 seed ended in Game 5 on Monday night, as the Boston Celtics celebrated their 18th championship with a 106-88 win in TD Garden.

Here are five thoughts from the loss:

A champion is crowned

In the game’s waning moments, NBA officials began to rope off the entrances to the parquet floor of TD Garden, the universal sign that Boston was inching closer to the title.

The Celtics had provided fans with black T-shirts featuring the phrase “Whatever it takes” with the Larry O’Brien Trophy serving as the “i.”

It took a statement game from Jayson Tatum, who had 31 points, eight rebounds and 11 assists, along with another two-way performance from Jaylen Brown (21 points, eight rebounds, six assists) to clinch the series for Boston, which overwhelmed Dallas early with a 67-point onslaught in the first half.

This iteration of the Celtics hadtoendurethepainoflosingto the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 finals. Perhaps the Mavericks can find solace in this being their first finals appearance as a group. They exceeded expectations time and time again and ultimately fell to the best team in basketball. As long as their nucleus remains intact, they could find themselves in the same position in the next few years. Just ask the Celtics.

Doncic struggles

Luka Dončić entered the game with a history of dominant performances in Game 5.

Unfortunately for the Mavericks, that wasn’t the case against the Celtics. Dončić was limited to 28 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. He didn’t get to the basket nearly as easily as he did in Game 4. Brown played a key part in Dončić's struggles. His defense was aggressive and consistent. He pestered him throughout the game and limited Dončić to just nine points in the first half.

Despite the slow start, Dončić played the majority of the second half. Even when he appeared tired and worn out, he remained on the floor until 2:37 remained in the game.

Asked to put his feelings into words after the game, Dončić kept it brief.

“Nothing,” he said. “I’m sad we lost.”

Dončić's long road to the Finals included multiple injuries, scoring explosions, a game-winning shot and a chance at a title, but it ends just short of the championship. The Mavericks went 13 years between Finals appearances. If Dončić stays healthy, there’s reason to presume it won’t take that long again.

Did Kyrie Irving meet the moment?

Kyrie Irving stood face-toface Monday with what some would consider the greatest challenge in his career. Before Game 5, he had discussed the “selfdoubt” that came with playing in TD Garden, where he hasn’t won in his last seven visits.

The Mavericks winning Game 4 presented an opportunity for Irving to snap out of his funk in Boston, but he couldn’t escape another subpar performance, finishing with 15 points and nine assists on 5-of-16 shooting.

Irving was booed early and often with chants of “Kyrie sucks!” starting four minutes into the game. They cheered when he picked up his first foul, not only because he committed it, but also because it coincided with the return of Kristaps Porzingis.

Irving scored his first points on a left-handed floater with 10:49 left in the second quarter and struggled to find an easy basket for the rest of the game.

His season ends at the hands of the franchise he once tried to lead to the promised land. This game likely won’t be his final one in Boston, and this finals appearance won’ t leave a stain on his legacy, but it was a missed chance at winning that elusive second ring.

The Josh Green game

The Mavericks couldn’t find efficient scoring from Dončić and Irving, but an unsung hero off the bench produced his best game of the playoffs. josh green made the majority of his shots on Monday night, including four from 3point range. He finished with 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting.

Before Game 5, Green’s highest scoring totals of the postseason were back-to-back outings of 11 points in Games 1 and 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

“I just wanted to leave it all on the floor tonight,” Green said. “I try to play every game like it’s my last. But, I mean, individual, like it doesn’t really matter at this stage. I really just want to win. Yeah, I don’t know. We just didn’t win.”

Porzingis returns

Porzingis, a fan favorite at TD Garden, emerged from the tunnel with seven minutes on the pregame clock to the sounds of clapping and cheering. After missing the last two games because of a rare left leg injury, the Celtics welcomed him back to the lineup with no restrictions. He checked into the game at the 6:49 mark of the first quarter as the crowd started a “KP!” chant. He didn’t move particularly well, but his presence was felt, with moments of success on the offensive and defensive side of the floor.

In the second quarter, Washington blatantly fouled Porzingis when he approached, then Derrick Jones Jr. got in Porzingis’ face. On the next play, Porzingis scored a floater over Irving for his first field goal of the game. He finished with 5 points and one rebound but no blocks.

The former Mavericks center didn’t playing games 3 or 4 in Dallas and still has yet to play in the city where MFFLS once thought he would compete for a title alongside Dončić. The next time he visits American Airlines Center, if he plays, he’ll do it as a champion.