Tatum stars as Celtics go 3-0 up against Mavericks

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown helped nan Boston Celtics clasp disconnected a Dallas Mavericks fightback to return a commanding 3-0 lead successful nan NBA finals.

Tatum scored 31 points and Brown 30 arsenic nan Celtics won 106-99 successful crippled 3 of nan best-of-seven series.

The Mavericks reduced their shortage from 91-70 early successful nan 4th fourth to 1 constituent pinch 3 and a half minutes near but grounded to move an awesome comeback into a victory.

Kyrie Irving scored a game-high 35 for Dallas, while team-mate Luka Doncic contributed 27 but fouled retired of nan crippled pinch conscionable complete 4 minutes remaining.

Boston are 1 triumph distant from an 18th NBA title and first since 2008, pinch nan adjacent crippled connected Saturday (01:30 BST).

"We are not relaxing aliases thing for illustration that," said Tatum. "You know, not moreover focusing connected winning aliases whatever.

"However agelong it takes, that's our motto. However agelong it takes, that's what it's going to take. Nobody is not trying to relax astatine all."

Brown added: "That was a big-time triumph for us, and I'm proud of really we played.

"They had immoderate momentum, but we kept our poise. We made timely baskets.

"We sewage immoderate bully shots going in, and we recovered a measurement to win."

The Mavericks will person to make history if they are to declare nan NBA title arsenic nary squad has ever recovered to triumph from 3-0 down to triumph a play-off series.

"It's not complete till it's over," said Doncic. "We've conscionable sewage to believe.

"Like I ever say, it's first to four. We're going to enactment together. We suffer together, we triumph together."