MANILA, Philippines – With their backs against the wall, the Dallas Mavericks continue to hope for a miracle in the 2024 NBA Finals as they try to stave off another title-winning attempt by the mighty Boston Celtics in Game 5 on Monday, June 17 (Tuesday, June 18, Manila time).
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SECOND QUARTER
- BOSTON 36-24: Maxi Kleber spins and scores inside
- BOSTON 36-22: Kristaps Porzingis takes advantage of the mismatch, sinks a short hook
- BOSTON 34-22: Jaylen Brown swishes a corner three
- BOSTON 31-22: Kyrie Irving finally hits his first field goal off a circus shot
- BOSTON 31-20: Sam Hauser rattles in his second three
- BOSTON 28-20: Derrick Jones, Jr. sinks a layup
FIRST QUARTER
- END OF FIRST QUARTER: Boston goes on a quick 9-0 finish to mount a 28-18 lead over Dallas
- BOSTON 28-18: Jayson Tatum steals and scores for the 9-0 run
- BOSTON 26-18: Jaylen Brown easy layup on the break
- BOSTON 24-18: Sam Hauser drills a three
- BOSTON 21-18: Jaylen Brown dunks it down
- BOSTON 19-18: Dante Exum quick response for three
- BOSTON 19-15: Jayson Tatum gets his first field goal
- BOSTON 17-15: Kristaps Porzingis splits at the line
- BOSTON 16-15: Luka Doncic swishes a fadeaway mid-range jumper
- BOSTON 16-13: Dereck Lively II hammers the alley-oop jam from Kyrie Irving. Timeout Boston with 3:56 left
- BOSTON 16-11: Derrick White sinks a three off a jump ball
- BOSTON 13-11: Josh Green sinks back-to-back threes from the same spot
- BOSTON 13-8: Josh Green sinks a three
- BOSTON 13-5: Jaylen Brown banking layup
- BOSTON 11-5: Derrick White 2/2 from the line
- BOSTON 9-5: Kristaps Porzingis checks in for the first time after missing Game 4 with 6:49 left
- BOSTON 9-5: Luka Doncic scores off the fake inside, plus the foul, makes the bonus FT
- BOSTON 9-2: Al Horford drills an open three. Timeout Dallas with 7:26 left
- BOSTON 6-2: Jrue Holiday sinks a fastbreak layup
- BOSTON 4-2: Derrick Jones, Jr. converts the alley-oop jam from Luka Doncic
- BOSTON 4-0: Jrue Holiday back-to-back layups
- BOSTON 2-0: Jrue Holiday sinks a layup
- BOSTON STARTERS: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Al Horford, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday
- DALLAS STARTERS: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Daniel Gafford, PJ Washington, Derrick Jones, Jr.
Preview
Season MVP runner-up Luka Doncic is again expected to weave his magic ways against all odds, while waiting for his veteran running mate Kyrie Irving to finally pick up steam after a lackluster first three games, which the underdog Mavericks all lost to incur a seemingly insurmountable 0-3 deficit.
Role players like big men Daniel Gafford and rookie Dereck Lively II, wings PJ Washington and Derrick Jones, Jr., and guards Josh Green and Tim Hardaway, Jr., need to provide extensive support to keep the Mavericks’ heads just above water.
The Celtics, meanwhile, are keen to brush off a horrendous 122-84 Game 4 beatdown loss and win their league-record 18th championship in front of their Boston home fans.
Top stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown – neck-and-neck favorites for Finals MVP should the Celtics finally end the series – are again tabbed to take charge with the finals all but over in their favor, as defensive aces Derrick White and champion Jrue Holiday round out Boston’s two-way efforts.
Big men Al Horford and the hobbling Kristaps Porzingis, meanwhile, are expected to be the Celtics’ x-factors anew in what they hope to be a definitive end to the Mavericks’ dying title hopes.
Will the Mavericks leap over massive roadblocks in Boston and bring the series back to Dallas for Game 6 or will the Celtics complete the so-called “gentleman’s sweep” to end a 16-year title drought?
Tip-off is at 8:30 am, Manila time. – Rappler.com