Celtics Take Commanding 3-0 Lead over Mavericks in Game 3

Tatum and Brown Lead Boston's Charge

5 Key Takeaways from the Hard-Fought Victory

The Boston Celtics seized a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night, coming away with a hard-fought 106-99 victory in Game 3. Despite the absence of star point guard Kyrie Irving, the Celtics' dynamic duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown stepped up in a big way, combining for 61 points.

Tatum finished with a team-high 30 points, along with 12 rebounds and 5 assists. Brown contributed 31 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists. The two All-Stars played with intensity and determination, leading the charge for Boston's offensive dominance.

The Mavericks, led by Luka Doncic's 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists, fought back valiantly but ultimately couldn't match the Celtics' firepower. Doncic, who entered the game with a quad injury, showed resilience but was not at his peak performance level.

The Celtics' defense also played a key role in the victory, limiting the Mavericks to just 39.5% shooting from the field. Marcus Smart was particularly impressive, notching 6 steals and playing with relentless energy on both ends of the court.

With the series now heavily in their favor, the Celtics will look to close it out on Monday night in Game 4. The Mavericks, facing a daunting task of needing to win four straight games to advance, will need to find a way to slow down Tatum and Brown and generate more consistent offense.