Game 4 was, from the Celtics’ standpoint, unsettling. Virtually every stat category that could favor the Mavericks did. They had more scoring from their stars (Dončić and Irving outscored Tatum and Brown 50-25), more rebounds (52-31), more threes (15-14), more assists (21-18) and fewer turnovers (13-8).
It was the kind of wholly one-sided performance that made you wonder whether the tide of this series had totally turned. Especially with Boston’s star big man Kristaps Porziņģis, a difference-maker early in this series, sidelined for a second consecutive contest by a lower leg injury.
It was also one game. Moreover, it was just the Celtics’ third loss of this playoffs, first since May 9 and only 21st since this season tipped back in October. Great teams can just have an off-night, and Boston has a chance to prove its performance was nothing more than that.
While the Celtics don’t have as big of an on-paper advantage without Porziņģis, that edge exists anyway. Dončić is the best player in this series, but the Celtics arguably have five of the next (or six out of the next seven with a healthy Porziņģis),
So, as tempting as it might be to overreact to that dismal showing on Friday, this series still pits a 64-win No. 1 seed against a 50-win No. 5. Look for that talent advantage to resurface on Monday night and allow Boston to collect its third five-game series win of this postseason.
Prediction: Celtics 113, Mavericks 107
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