Jayson Tatum scored 31 points and Jaylen Brown had 30 as the Boston Celtics held off a fearsome comeback attempt by the Dallas Mavericks and moved within one victory of an 18th championship with a 106-99 victory , Wednesday.
The Celtics lead the NBA Finals series 3-0.
Brown also provided eight rebounds and as many assists for the Celtics, who improved a team record with a 10th straight playoff victory. They improved their road record to 7-0 during the spring tournament.
One more win would allow them to break a tie with the Lakers for the most championships in NBA history.
Game 4 will take place Friday in Dallas.
The Celtics were without Kristaps Porzingis, dealing with a left leg injury suffered in Game 2. It’s unclear if he will return from the series, but it might not matter. No team in NBA history has won a series in 156 occasions after falling behind 0-3.
The Mavericks tried everything to avoid finding themselves in this ditch. The Celtics led 91-70 early in the fourth quarter when Dallas scored 22 of the next 24 points. The Mavericks closed to within one point of their rivals with about three and a half minutes remaining in the game.
However, Luka Doncic picked up a sixth foul with 4:12 remaining before Kyrie Irving, who scored 35 points, made a shot to bring the Mavericks within one point of the Celtics.
Tatum and Brown, however, saved the visitors, with the help of Derrick White, author of 16 points. Those three players scored the Celtics’ final 13 points.