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Celtics vs. Mavericks live score: Updated Game 3 results, highlights from 2024 NBA Finals
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Celtics vs. Mavericks live score: Updated Game 3 results, highlights from 2024 NBA Finals

Celtics vs. Mavericks live score: Updated Game 3 results, highlights from 2024 NBA Finals

The 2024 NBA Finals shift to Dallas in what is, historically, a must-win game for the Mavericks.

The Celtics protected the parquet, taking care of business at home to build a 2-0 series lead. Boston held Dallas to a playoff-low 89 points in Game 1, then overcame one of its worst 3-point shooting games of the season to edge out a victory in Game 2.

It has been a balanced effort on the Celtics end, as Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White and Kristaps Porzingis have all scored double figures in each of the first two Finals games. Boston will be without Porzingis for Game 3, though, as he deals with a “rare” leg injury that has his status in jeopardy for the rest of the series.

The Mavericks have been more of a one-man show. Luka Doncic is averaging 31.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists so far but he hasn’t had much help. Kyrie Irving is averaging just 14.0 points on 35.1 percent shooting from the field and Dallas’ role players will need to be significantly better at home than they were on the road.

Will the Mavericks defend home court or will the Celtics put Dallas in a historically insurmountable 3-0 series hole? The Sporting News has you covered with live updates, highlights and more from all the action in Game 3.

MORE: Kristaps Porzingis’ ‘rare’ injury spells bad news for Celtics in Finals

Celtics vs. Mavericks score

  1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Final
Celtics 30 20      
Mavericks 31 20      

Celtics vs. Mavericks live updates, highlights from Game 3 in 2024 NBA Finals

Third quarter

10:05 p.m.: Boston’s ball movement has been a thing of beauty to start the second half.

9:56 p.m.: Jrue Holiday buries a 3, Jaylen Brown comes up with a steal then kicks out to Jayson Tatum for 3. The Celtics are up 64-59 in the first four minutes of the second half. Tatum has a game-high 25 points.

Halftime: Mavericks 51, Celtics 50

9:35 p.m.: The Mavericks head into the half with a one-point lead. The lid finally came off the rim for Kyrie Irving, whose 20 points in the first half are already more than his totals from either of the first two games. Luka Doncic was limited to 17 points on 16 shots.

Jayson Tatum also has 20 points but he missed his last three 3-pointers of the half after a hot start. Sam Hauser has been a surprise contributor off the bench with three triples. The Celtics are bombing away from 3-point range with 27 attempts in the first half.

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9:24 p.m.: Kyrie Irving and Jayson Tatum are both finally finding a rhythm from 3 and they’re trading big shots. Irving is 4-for-5 from deep and already has 20 points. Tatum is 3-for-6 from 3 and already has 18 points. The Mavericks lead the Celtics 46-45 with 2:29 to play in the half.

9:17 p.m.: The Celtics have taken their first lead of the game, up 35-33 four minutes into the second quarter. Derrick White — who missed four solid looks from 3 in the first quarter — finally got a triple to fall to keep Boston in front.

End of first quarter: Mavericks 31, Celtics 30

9:07 p.m.: The Celtics weathered the Mavericks’ storm and cut the deficit to one by the end of the frame. 

Dallas came out guns blazing behind 13 points from Luka Doncic and nine points from Kyrie Irving. It took advantage of Boston’s lack of rim protection without Kristaps Porzingis, scoring 20 points in the paint.

Sam Hauser buried a pair of late triples and Jayson Tatum finally found a rhythm with 13 first-quarter points to give the Celtics life.

8:57 p.m.: Jayson Tatum knocks down a pair of 3s to give the Celtics a sigh of relief. Boston trails 25-19 with 3:23 to play in the quarter.

8:53 p.m.: Kyrie Irving buries a deep triple at the top of the key for his first 3-pointer of the series. It’s been all Mavericks to start this one.

8:51 p.m.: The Mavericks are taking it straight to the Celtics inside. Dallas already has 18 points in the paint in the first seven minutes of the game. The Mavericks have their biggest lead of the Finals, up 22-12 with five minutes remaining in the frame. Luka Doncic leads all scorers with nine points.

8:42 p.m.: The Mavericks are off and running at home. Kyrie Irving finished a layup, Luka Doncic hit a stepback 3 and Derrick Jones Jr. forced a Jayson Tatum turnover and scored in transition the other way. Dallas leads 9-2 out of the gate. Timeout Celtics.

Pregame

8:30 p.m.: The Mavericks will start Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Derrick Jones Jr., P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford.

8:30 p.m.: The Celtics will keep the same starting five: Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Al Horford.

8:20 p.m.: A tribute to the late, great Jerry West before tip-off.

7:00 p.m.: The Mavericks announced that Luka Doncic will be AVAILABLE for Game 3, despite his “thoracic contusion.” You can read more about his injury here.

6:50 p.m.: The Celtics have ruled Kristaps Porzingis OUT for Game 3 with a “left posterior tibialis dislocation.”

Look for backup centers Luke Kornet or Xavier Tillman to pick up some minutes in Porzingis’ absence. Head coach Joe Mazzulla also went to Oshae Brissett in some small-ball minutes during the Eastern Conference Finals.

Celtics vs. Mavericks start time

  • Date: Wednesday, June 12
  • Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

Celtics vs. Mavericks will tip off around 8:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 12. The game will be played at American Airlines Center in Dallas.

How to watch Celtics vs. Mavericks

  • TV channel: ABC (U.S.) | TSN 1/3/4/5 (Canada)
  • Live stream: Sling

Celtics vs. Mavericks will air on ABC in the United States and TSN in Canada. U.S. viewers can also stream the game on Sling.

Sling is the home for sports fans, offering various channels. You can always cheer for your favorite teams on channels like ESPN, TBS, TNT, NFL Network, FS1 and more.

Celtics vs. Mavericks odds for Game 3

Here are the latest Mavericks-Celtics odds for Game 3, courtesy of BetMGM, an authorized gaming operator of the NBA.

The Mavericks are favored by 2.5 and are -140 against the moneyline. A -140 moneyline means a $140 bet would pay out $100.

Celtics lead 2-0 Celtics Mavericks
Spread +2.5 (-110) -2.5 (-110)
Moneyline +115 -140
O/U total O 212.5 (-115) U 212.5 (-105)

Check out BetMGM to see the latest NBA Finals odds including updated odds to win the series,

NBA Finals schedule 2024

Games 2, 5 and 7 are scheduled to be played at TD Garden in Boston. The series will shift to the American Airlines Center in Dallas for Games 3, 4 and 6.

(1) Celtics vs. (5) Mavericks — Bostons leads series 2-0

Date Game Time (ET) TV/Live stream
June 6 Celtics 107, Mavericks 89 — —
June 9 Celtics 105, Mavericks 98 — —
June 12 Game 3 8:30 p.m. ABC, Sling
June 14 Game 4 8:30 p.m. ABC, Sling
June 17 Game 5* 8:30 p.m. ABC, Sling
June 20 Game 6* 8:30 p.m. ABC, Sling
June 23 Game 7* 8 p.m. ABC, Sling

*If necessary

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