Exum’s dunk: Best play by an Aussie in NBA finals since Mills a decade ago?

BOSTON 106, DALLAS 99

Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after making a shot.Credit: Getty Images

KEY POINTS

Great shots, great win

All series, Boston coach Joe Mazzulla has urged his players to fight for great shots, the ESPN microphones even picked up Jayson Tatum admonishing himself to his teammates for taking a rushed shot. This is because the Celtics know their biggest advantage over Dallas is that they are far better at creating shots for each other. In their game three win on Thursday, Tatum had 31 points, Jaylen Brown had 24 of his 30 points in the second half, but they still combined for 13 of Boston’s 26 assists. The Mavs were again left frustrated as they fell behind 21 points but then battled back in the last quarter to get within a point before Boston pulled away again. Kyrie Irving had a game-high 35 points and Luka Doncic had 27 points, but he fouled out with two minutes to go after Brown attacked him defensively in the final term. Doncic was not happy post game. “We couldn’t play physical,” Doncic said post game. “I don’t want to say anything, but six fouls in the NBA finals? My hands are out like this. C’mon man. We have to be better than that.”

Exum dunks, then benched

Australian guard Dante Exum provided one of the highlight plays of the NBA finals when he drove to the bucket late in the first quarter and dunked over Tatum. It might be the best individual play an Aussie has made in the NBA finals since Patty Mills caught fire for San Antonio against LeBron James’ Miami Heat in 2014. But strangely, Exum didn’t return to the court, with Mavs coach Jason Kidd giving more minutes to Tim Hardaway jnr, a veteran shooting guard who was among the team’s leading scorers early in the season, but has only played sparingly in the play-offs. Unless Exum suffered an injury that has yet to be disclosed, it seems stunning that he wasn’t offered another stint on the floor. Fellow Aussie Josh Green didn’t play in the first quarter, but filled some important minutes in the second half, including knocking down a three during the comeback run in the final term. One would hope they will both get more time in the next – perhaps last – game.

Can Boston close it out?
Brown put it perfectly in his chat with ESPN soon after the buzzer. Boston must “stay in the moment” as they look to try and secure the championship in game four on Saturday (AEST) in Dallas. While it would be Boston’s 18th NBA championship, the core of team – Tatum, Brown and Al Horford – are chasing their first NBA title. They’ll no doubt be nervy, but Brown is ready for it. “Stay in the moment,” he said. “Just stay in the moment. Smile. Appreciate everything as I’m grateful to be here.” For all the talk about who is Boston’s best player, this game showed Boston is at its best when both Brown and Tatum are firing freely and also looking to set up their mates. If that happens again on Saturday, it will take them a long way towards a deserved NBA title.

KEY STATS

Thanks so much for joining us today as Boston took a 3-0 lead in the NBA Finals and the league remembered the enormous legacy of Jerry West who died overnight aged 86.

I hope we will see the NBA, as a whole, do something to honour West next season as they did following Bill Russell’s death and, more recently, Bill Walton’s death.

We hope to be back with a live blog for game four on Saturday AEST. Please join us then.

BOSTON 106, DALLAS 99

Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after making a shot.Credit: Getty Images

KEY POINTS

Great shots, great win

All series, Boston coach Joe Mazzulla has urged his players to fight for great shots, the ESPN microphones even picked up Jayson Tatum admonishing himself to his teammates for taking a rushed shot. This is because the Celtics know their biggest advantage over Dallas is that they are far better at creating shots for each other. In their game three win on Thursday, Tatum had 31 points, Jaylen Brown had 24 of his 30 points in the second half, but they still combined for 13 of Boston’s 26 assists. The Mavs were again left frustrated as they fell behind 21 points but then battled back in the last quarter to get within a point before Boston pulled away again. Kyrie Irving had a game-high 35 points and Luka Doncic had 27 points, but he fouled out with two minutes to go after Brown attacked him defensively in the final term. Doncic was not happy post game. “We couldn’t play physical,” Doncic said post game. “I don’t want to say anything, but six fouls in the NBA finals? My hands are out like this. C’mon man. We have to be better than that.”

Exum dunks, then benched

Australian guard Dante Exum provided one of the highlight plays of the NBA finals when he drove to the bucket late in the first quarter and dunked over Tatum. It might be the best individual play an Aussie has made in the NBA finals since Patty Mills caught fire for San Antonio against LeBron James’ Miami Heat in 2014. But strangely, Exum didn’t return to the court, with Mavs coach Jason Kidd giving more minutes to Tim Hardaway jnr, a veteran shooting guard who was among the team’s leading scorers early in the season, but has only played sparingly in the play-offs. Unless Exum suffered an injury that has yet to be disclosed, it seems stunning that he wasn’t offered another stint on the floor. Fellow Aussie Josh Green didn’t play in the first quarter, but filled some important minutes in the second half, including knocking down a three during the comeback run in the final term. One would hope they will both get more time in the next – perhaps last – game.

Can Boston close it out?
Brown put it perfectly in his chat with ESPN soon after the buzzer. Boston must “stay in the moment” as they look to try and secure the championship in game four on Saturday (AEST) in Dallas. While it would be Boston’s 18th NBA championship, the core of team – Tatum, Brown and Al Horford – are chasing their first NBA title. They’ll no doubt be nervy, but Brown is ready for it. “Stay in the moment,” he said. “Just stay in the moment. Smile. Appreciate everything as I’m grateful to be here.” For all the talk about who is Boston’s best player, this game showed Boston is at its best when both Brown and Tatum are firing freely and also looking to set up their mates. If that happens again on Saturday, it will take them a long way towards a deserved NBA title.

KEY STATS

Boston superstars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum shared a moment after the buzzer and Brown told ESPN what he told his fellow Celtics star.

“Big time win,” Brown said.

Jaylen Brown shoots over Kyrie Irving.Credit: Getty Images

“I was proud of how he played tonight, he came out aggressive from the start and helped us get the victory.”

“That third quarter was the difference, our ‘stay ready’ guys came up, like Peyton Pritchard and Sam Hauser came in and made shots for us.

“We played the right way the whole night.”

Asked how he plans to handle the closeout game on Saturday (AEST), Brown already has a plan in place.

“Stay in the moment,” he said.

“Just stay in the moment. Smile. Appreciate everything as I’m grateful to be here.”

The Celtics tried to foul Tim Hardaway jnr, it wasn’t called as he blew back White and stepped into an open three.

He missed. The Celtics made some more free throws and it’s game over.

The Celtics have won game three. The Mavs will have to make history to win this series as no team has comeback from 3-0 down to win an NBA finals series.

Brown’s three pushed the lead to four points. He is up to 30 points for the game.

Then Green has come up with a big play forcing Horford into a turnover on the sideline, although it could have been a foul on the Aussie.

Sadly for Dallas, Irving missed a stepback three with 25 seconds to go.

White was fouled on the rebound and has made two free throws.

BOS 104, DAL 98 with 22 secs left

Tatum has been a cut above everyone tonight, and he just showed it again spinning around two defenders to dunk the ball.

Back-to-back Dereck Lively dunks at the other end has kept it close.

BOS 100, DAL 98 with 90 seconds to go.

Irving made a bucket to get the Mavs within a point.

But Brown came up with a put-back after a Tatum miss and after an offensive foul on Washington, White made a three.

Boston 98, DAL 92 with two mins to go.

Jaylen Brown.Credit: Getty Images

Huge moment. The biggest challenge in Dallas’ season.

The referees are finalising their review with the NBA’s review centre. There was no evidence to change it.

Doncic is done.

The Mavs are -12 without Doncic on the court.

BOS 93, DAL 90 with four mins to go.

My apologies. Dallas didn’t challenge Doncic’s fifth foul, they just took a time out.

But soon after the restart, Brown again drove at Doncic and again drew the foul which is his sixth foul.

This time the Mavs have challenged it. Again, I don’t like their chances.

They could be without Luka for the rest of the night.

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, left, drives against Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic.Credit: AP

Brown just posted up Doncic and drew a foul as he tried to drive past the Mavs star and was brought to ground.

It was a super smart play from Brown as it has drawn Doncic’s fifth foul – one more foul and he will be out of the game.

Mavs coach Jason Kidd has used his challenge to try to get the call reversed.

BOS 93, DAL 90 with four mins to go.