Luka Doncic, Mavs avert sweep with Game 4 blowout

Jun 14, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (30) during the third quarter during game four of the 2024 NBA Finals at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

DALLAS -- Luka Doncic scored 25 of his 29 points in the first half, Kyrie Irving added 21 points and the Dallas Mavericks avoided a sweep with a 122-84 rout of the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday.

The series shifts back to Boston for Game 5 on Monday as the Celtics will look to close it out at home. However, Dallas showed life in extending the series after Boston was the dominant team while winning the first three games of the best-of-seven series.

Jun 14, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) during the third quarter during game four of the 2024 NBA Finals at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

The script flipped in Game 4. Doncic and the Mavericks got off to a fast start and didn't look back. Doncic started a 10-0 spurt in the first quarter with a floater and closed it with a driving layup as Dallas took a 25-14 lead with 3:19 left in the period. That early run was a sign of things to come.

Jun 14, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Boston Celtics forward Xavier Tillman (26) battles for the ball against Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) during the first half during game four of the 2024 NBA Finals at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Julio Cortez/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

Dallas had a 34-21 lead by the end of the first quarter, scoring the final six points on 3-pointers by Irving and P.J. Washington.

The Mavericks kept pouring it on. They doubled up the Celtics 50-25 on a layup by Irving at the 5:16 mark of the second quarter. To close the half, Maxi Kleber drilled a corner 3-pointer off an assist by Doncic. That gave Dallas a 61-35 lead at the break.

The Mavericks shot 52.3 percent from the field compared to the Celtics' 29.7 percent in the opening half. Dallas also won the rebounding battle 29-13 over the opening 24 minutes.

Dallas turned it into a full-on rout in the second half, leading by as many as 48, taking a 115-67 lead on a 3-pointer by Jaden Hardy with 5:58 left in the game.

Jun 12, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) dribbles the ball against Dallas Mavericks forward Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) during the second quarter during game three of the 2024 NBA Finals at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The Mavericks reached the 100-point mark several minutes before that on a 3-pointer by Tim Hardaway Jr. Dallas didn't reach the 100-point mark in any of the first three games against Boston.

Hardaway finished with 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting from 3-point range.

For Boston, it was a letdown for a team that remains in control of the Finals. NBA teams are 156-0 when taking a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven series.

Jun 14, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) dribbles the ball against Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (30) during the third quarter during game four of the 2024 NBA Finals at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

The Celtics were led by Jayson Tatum's 15 points. Sam Hauser added 14 points, and Payton Pritchard had 11.

--Drew Davison, Field Level Media