(Boston) The Boston Celtics were severely beaten in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, but the silver lining for them, so to speak, is that they will have the chance to triumph in front of their fans on Monday. The goal is an 18th champion banner.
“We don’t like to lose,” Jaylen Brown said before his team’s practice on Sunday. We are ready. We’re home and we can’t wait to play again. »
The Celtics had the best record in the league during the regular season. They have only lost three times since the start of the series.
However, they were defeated 122-84 on Friday, while the Dallas Mavericks avoided being swept.
In the history of the NBA Finals, there have only been two times where the margin of victory has been even greater.
That sent the series back to Boston, where the Celtics will try to seal a first crown since 2008.
“All of our efforts are in the same direction,” Brown said. We are very close to what was our goal at the start of the season. »
Jayson Tatum, however, added this: Coach Joe Mazzulla told his team not to give in to the idea that they absolutely have to win on Monday.
“That’s our biggest wish, but otherwise, it’s not the end of the world,” Tatum said. There are other opportunities ahead of us. »
At the Mavericks, Kyrie Irving said that we do not want to dwell on this narrative that a successful comeback after an 0-3 deficit has never been successful in the series.
The sixth game would take place Thursday in Dallas, and the seventh would be presented Sunday at TD Garden.
“We just think about the goal in front of us,” Irving said. We try not to waste energy on these discussions about what has never been done.
“We have the chance to accomplish one of our goals, which is to play one more game (than Monday) in Boston. Another of our goals is to be able to play in Dallas again. »
Game 5 will be broadcast Monday evening at 8:30 p.m. (RDS, ABC, TSN).
