Despite the absence of Kristaps Porzingis, the Boston Celtics showcased their resilience by defeating the Dallas Mavericks 106–99 on Wednesday night. This victory, which extended their series advantage to 3-0 in the NBA Finals, was a testament to their ability to limit Luka Doncic's speed and escape from behind.
At this stage, the Celtics began to lose control of the game. Their offense crumbled once the Mavs found a way to get closer to Boston.
Then, Jrue Holiday found Derrick White at the 3-point line with an over-the-head pass after driving to the hoop and drawing numerous defenders. And, as is his wont, White sank it.
Joe Mazzulla's strategic brilliance has been a key factor in the Celtics' success this season. His emphasis on repetition and concentration, and his theory that the closer one is to victory, the higher the chances of losing, have guided the team to their current position in the NBA Finals.
According to NBA news reports, Mazzulla occasionally shows his players footage of bouts that relate to this idea, as he is a huge UFC fan. Before the third game, he gave some funny anecdotes.
The jumbotron captured his gesture toward the Celtics bench as he dashed back to defense. As he glanced over at Boston's bench, he laughed, pointed at Hauser, and seemingly said, "Are you going to let this guy protect me?" Considering Doncic went 6-for-18 in the fourth quarter, it's reasonable to assume that Boston's faith in Hauser and the other players paid off.