Down 3-1, Mavs striving to make history against Celtics
Sun Jun 16 6:07pm ET
Field Level Media
Luka Doncic wasn't going to let the Dallas Mavericks go down quietly.
With Dallas facing a 3-0 deficit in the NBA Finals, Doncic rose to the occasion and led the Mavericks to a 122-84 shellacking of the Boston Celtics on Friday night in Game 4 on his home court.
Doncic went for 29 points, five assists, five rebounds and three steals, a performance that virtually erased a fourth-quarter collapse in Game 3 that subjected the Dallas star to scrutiny from media across the country.
In that game, the Mavericks trailed by 21 following a Derrick White 3-pointer with 11:07 left in the game before mounting a feverish rally that got them within 93-90 with 6:11 to go. But with 4:12 remaining, Doncic stepped in front of Jaylen Brown to try and draw a charge and was called for a blocking foul -- his sixth personal.
Dallas challenged the call, which stood, sending Doncic to the bench for the remainder of the contest. Doncic committed four of his fouls in the final quarter.
Kyrie Irving later sank a jumper to make it a one-point game, but without Doncic, the Mavericks never found a way to move in front, leading to the 3-0 series deficit.
In Dallas coach Jason Kidd's eyes, a lot of the criticism was unwarranted, and Doncic proved why on Friday.
"He was Luka. He's been Luka. There wasn't a different Luka out there," Kidd said following Game 4. "He played at a high level. He was great. He's been great. He's one of the best players in the world. As much as we want to criticize, he's a hell of a player."
And although Kidd didn't say anything to Doncic directly, Doncic was pleased to hear that his coach was sticking up for him.
"That speaks a lot about him. He always has players' backs. He always supports us," Doncic said. That's a big thing, to have a coach like that."
Still, the Mavericks have an uphill battle down 3-1 in the series. NBA teams to lose the first three games of a best-of-seven playoff series are 0-156 -- 0-14 in the finals -- but making history is still on the table for Dallas.
"Our group was ready to go. They were ready to celebrate," Kidd said of why Game 4 played out the way it did. "Understand, we made a stand. We were desperate. We got to continue to keep playing that way. ... The hardest thing in this league is to close the door when you have a group that has nothing to lose. (Friday) you saw that."
If the Mavericks want to take another step toward the greatest comeback in league history, they will now have to take care of business in Boston on Monday. Celtics veteran Al Horford said his team should have no problem moving on from the ugly Game 4 performance.
"You know, after we won Game 1, we put that behind us," Horford said. "You know, Game 2, kind of same thing and so on, and we are at this point now. ... We have to take some things that we can be better at and try to fix them, and then you know, others kind of throw them out and just kind of do that and make sure that we come out and we play Celtics basketball.
"I think ultimately that's what it comes down to for us, and there's a lot of things that we can control and that I expect us to be much better on Monday."
Dallas lost Games 1 and 2 in Boston, with Irving, a former Celtic who burned bridges with the organization by signing with the Brooklyn Nets in July 2019, getting berated by fans any time the ball was in his hands.
However, Irving said he believes the Mavericks will be ready to combat the hectic environment this time around.
"When we go to Boston, there's going to be a bunch of (fans) yelling a whole bunch of crazy stuff still, but I think we've been able to grow and face kind of this adversity head on," Irving said. "We're figuring out each other in a crazy way during the highest stage of basketball. It's a beautiful thing, but it also can be chaotic if you don't know how to stay poised through it.
"I think we're figuring out each other throughout those phases."
--Nick Galle, Field Level Media
- Down 3-1, Mavs striving to make history against Celtics
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Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (leg) is questionable for Monday's meeting with the Dallas Mavericks. Porzingis returned for Game 1 of the NBA Finals after missing over a month because of a Soleus strain. Unfortunately, he suffered a dislocated Left Posterior Tibialis in Game 2 and didn't suit up in Game 3. Porzingis was available in Friday's loss. However, he never made it on the floor. The Mavs built a big lead early in that contest, so it's unknown if Joe Mazzulla would have put him into the game had the score remained close. But if the veteran is active on Monday evening, he's certainly a risky DFS option, considering he may not get off the bench.
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (chest) is probable for Game 5 of the NBA Finals versus the Boston Celtics. Besides receiving pain-killing injections, it doesn't appear the thoracic contusion is much of an issue for the multi-time All-Star. He's averaged 29.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 2.5 steals during the series. While Doncic has struggled shooting from deep, he remains the top DFS option for managers on Monday evening.
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen is reportedly on the Pelicans' radar. Jonas Valanciunas isn't expected back next season, and Brandon Ingram could be on the move, so adding Allen would undoubtedly lessen the blow caused by the potential departures. The 26-year-old finished last season by averaging a career-high 16.5 points with 10.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. He also shot 63.4% from the field. Of course, Cleveland's primary focus this offseason is on extending Donovan Mitchell. However, the Cavs could keep their core intact, considering Evan Mobley wasn't the healthiest during the 2023-24 campaign.
The New Orleans Pelicans are expected to move on from center Jonas Valanciunas this offseason. The 32-year-old will officially be an unrestricted free agent this summer, with the Pelicans planning to construct the roster to complement the skillset of Zion Williamson better. But Valanciunas, averaging 12.2 points and 8.8 rebounds during the 2023-24 campaign, will draw interest from at least a handful of teams. Although his production was down last season, he's among the most durable big men in the National Basketball Association. With that in mind, if Valanciunas finds a stable role for a new team, he could continue to provide double-double upside for fantasy managers.
Chicago Bulls center Andre Drummond appears ready to move on from the Windy City in the summer. According to Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times, Drummond is looking for a new team. The veteran big man will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason after completing a two-year, $6.56 million deal in Chicago. Drummond has been a serviceable backup big for the Bulls, averaging 7.3 points and 7.9 rebounds in 15.1 minutes during his stay. The best days are behind Drummond, but he remains a strong rebounder and should help fantasy managers again in the department wherever he lands for the upcoming campaign.
Sacramento Kings duo Kevin Huerter and Harrison Barnes are reportedly available on the trade market, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Both players had disappointing campaigns in 2023-24, and it looks like the Kings will try to shake up the roster after failing to qualify for the playoffs. Barnes could be moving on just 12 months after signing a three-year, $54 million extension with the Kings. The 32-year-old has been a one-dimensional player throughout his career but has performed well in suitable situations. Huerter has proven himself to be a solid starter and could definitely do a good job for a number of teams if he isn't wanted in Sacramento anymore.
Denver Nuggets guard/forward Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has had two solid years with the team but might land elsewhere for the 2024-25 campaign. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Nuggets are "concerned" that Caldwell-Pope will decline his $15.44 million player option and enter unrestricted free agency. It is believed that the two-time NBA champion could attract a similar deal to the one Bruce Brown signed with Indiana last summer when he left Denver on a two-year, $45 million contract. Caldwell-Pope, who turned 31 in February, posted 10.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists with 40.6 percent three-point shooting in 2023-24.
Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton could be involved in another trade only two seasons after arriving from Cleveland. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, there is a "belief" among rival executives that Sexton could be on the trade market this summer, along with Jordan Clarkson, who has already previously been linked with a move elsewhere. Sexton has played well with the Jazz, averaging 18.7 points and a career-high 4.9 assists in 2023-24. But he could welcome a change of scenery as well after finding himself as a member of the second unit for large parts of his stay in Salt Lake City. The 25-year-old has two more seasons to go on his contract and will be paid $18.35 million in 2024-25.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.com, there's an "early belief" that Indiana Pacers forward/center Jalen Smith will decline his $5.4 million player option and enter free agency this offseason. The 2020 No. 10 overall pick has spent the last three seasons with the Pacers. He averaged 13.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks during the 2021-22 campaign. However, his production has trended downward since. Smith saw limited action for the Pacers in 2023-24. Yet, in his 14 starts, he averaged 11.1 points and 6.7 rebounds. It's evident Smith can be productive, so a change of scenery could do wonders for his fantasy value heading toward the regular season.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.com, teams around the National Basketball Association are "monitoring" the availability of Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker. Indy could match offers for Obi Toppin this offseason. If that happens, Walker could be on the move. The 2023 No. 8 overall pick had a forgettable rookie year, averaging just 3.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 33 games. He also spent time in the G League, although he played much better. For now, Walker's value is limited, and he likely won't find his way onto fantasy rosters unless he gets some minutes, which isn't expected to happen in Indiana or for another club, for that matter.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.com, impending free-agent forward/center Isaiah Hartenstein is drawing interest from more teams. While OKC has been rumored to covet his services, Scotto, citing league sources, reported the Orlando Magic could be a team to watch this summer. The 26-year-old drew 49 starts for New York during the 2023-24 campaign, averaging 8.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.2 blocks. He was also instrumental in helping the Knicks advance deep into the postseason. But New York likely won't be able to afford to keep Hartenstein on the roster, meaning Orlando, a team with plenty of cap space this summer, could make him a strong offer.
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring) reported he's progressing in his recovery from another hamstring injury sustained during the Eastern Conference Finals. "The hamstring is good," said Haliburton during an interview on Friday. "Today, I ran for the first time at full speed." The 24-year-old is coming off another productive season, amassing 20.1 points, 10.9 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.2 steals. But he missed time because of injury in 2023-24, appearing in 69 games after playing in just 56 the year before. Haliburton still plans to suit up for Team USA in the Olympics. With that in mind, he could be a top-10 fantasy option in all formats during the 2024-25 campaign, although he needs to figure out how to stay on the floor.
According to Fred Katz of the New York Times, the Brooklyn Nets are staying firm on their unwillingness to trade forward Mikal Bridges. Per Katz, league sources have contacted Brooklyn about acquiring the former Sun, with teams offering "hoards of first-rounders." However, the Nets haven't budged. After the 27-year-old was traded from Phoenix in 2022-23, he averaged a career-high 26.1 points in 27 games in Brooklyn. But his production declined significantly last season, with Bridges ending the year by averaging 19.6 points. At any rate, the Nets are in rebuilding mode, and it appears the franchise wants to build around Bridges. Brooklyn also has a new coach in Jordi Fernandez, which could help Bridges turn things around for fantasy managers in 2024-25.
Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (leg) will play on Friday night against Dallas. He suffered a dislocated posterior Tibialis in Game 2 on Sunday night and wasn't available for Game 3 on Wednesday. With that in mind, Porzingis may only play in certain situations, so it may be tough for him to do anything meaningful for DFS managers.
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (chest) scored a game-high 29 points in Friday's win over the Boston Celtics. He added five boards, five assists, and three steals. Doncic entered this contest carrying an injury designation because of a thoracic contusion. But, as expected, he was on the floor for Game 4. The 25-year-old failed to make any of his eight tries from deep. But that didn't matter, as Dallas cruised to a much-needed win on Friday night. With the Mavs still training two games, both teams will pack their bags and head to Boston for Game 5 on Sunday. DFS managers should expect to see Doncic back on the injury report. However, he will be ready to go.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum had 15 points in Friday's loss to the Dallas Mavericks. He added five rebounds, two blocks, and one steal. The 26-year-old had 31 points in Game 3 on Wednesday evening. However, the Mavs took a big lead early, so Tatum logged only 27 minutes before calling it a night. With the C's still up two games, the series will head back to Boston for Game 5 on Sunday night. The game should be more competitive, meaning Tatum has an excellent chance to bounce back.
Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown struggled in the loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Friday. He scored 10 points, shooting a rough 3-for-12 from the field and 1-for-5 from downtown. The 27-year-old had 30 points in Game 3 on Wednesday. However, he wasn't nearly as potent in Game 4. With the Celtics still up two games in the NBA Finals, both teams will head to Boston for Game 5 on Sunday. Brown is due for a dominant performance, so DFS managers should keep him in mind for their lineups.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (leg) might play in Game 4 of the NBA Finals versus the Dallas Mavericks. He suffered a dislocated posterior Tibialis in Game 2 on Sunday and wasn't available for Game 3. But the 28-year-old, who was initially believed to miss the rest of the Postseason, has a chance of suiting up for Game 4. However, Porzingis is also dealing with swelling, so the C's may play it safe and keep him off the floor, considering the team is just one win away from an NBA title. For now, he's officially questionable. But if Porzingis can't play, Al Horford, who had eight points, five boards, two steals, and one block on Wednesday, will likely stay with the first five.
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (chest) is probable for Game 4 of the NBA Finals against Boston on Friday night. He has a thoracic contusion, resulting in several pain-killing injections ahead of Game 3 on Wednesday night. But the Mavs are just one loss away from losing the series, so there's basically no chance he won't be on the floor. Doncic has averaged 29.7 points, 9.0 boards, 6.0 assists, and 2.3 steals in the series' first three games, making him worthy of DFS roster consideration.
According to Fox 40's Sean Cunningham, citing league sources, Sacramento Kings forward Sasha Vezenkov plans to finish the contract he agreed to with the team last offseason. Mihalis Stefanou of EuroHoops.net reported Vezenkov wanted out of Sacramento while indicating the 28-year-old was considering heading back overseas. However, Cunningham denied the report's validity, with a league executive calling it "off base." The 2023 EuroLeague MVP averaged 5.4 points and 2.3 rebounds while shooting 37.5% from deep in the 2023-24 campaign. It's likely teams will inquire about a possible trade this offseason. But with the Kings' roster not set in stone for 2024-25, Vezenkov carving out a meaningful role in Sacramento isn't out of the question.