Mavericks vs. Celtics Game 4 stats: Dallas avoid NBA Finals sweep with historic 38-point blowout win

The Mavericks have fought to see another day.

Facing a 3-0 series deficit against Boston in the NBA Finals, Dallas avoided a sweep by putting forth a dominant effort to deny the Celtics an opportunity to win an NBA title at the American Airlines Center. The Mavs have a ways to go before making it a series but their Game 4 effort is a step in the right direction.

Dallas didn't waste much time in this one, getting out to a 13-point lead to end the first quarter before using stingy defense to take a 61-35 lead into the locker room at halftime. The Mavs continued to pile on, leading by as many as 48 points in the second half before ultimately securing a 38-point win to extend the series.

While it was just one win, Dallas made the type of statement that it could carry back to Boston for Monday's Game 5. Take a closer look at how the Mavericks got things done to avoid elimination.

MORE: Where Mavs' Game 4 rout ranks among biggest blowouts in NBA Finals history

Mavericks vs. Celtics Game 4 stats

Team stats

Dallas dominated on the interior. In addition to winning the rebounding battle 52-31, the Mavericks' 13 offensive rebounds resulted in 16 second-chance points. The Mavs outscored the Celtics 60-26 in the paint.

The difference in efficiency is largely a product of the Mavericks' high-percentage opportunities. Dallas shot 50.5 percent from the field while Boston shot 36.2 percent from the field.

MORE: What we learned from Game 4 of the NBA Finals

Individual stats

Jayson Tatum led Boston's scoring efforts with 15 points on 4-of-10 shooting. Among other Celtics starters, Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday each added 10 points while Derrick White had six points on 2-of-8 shooting and Al Horford connected on his only shot attempt of the night to score three points.

Due to the nature of the game, Boston's bench saw extended time, with Sam Hauser scoring 14 points and Payton Pritchard scoring 11 points on a team-high 14 shot attempts.

For Dallas, Luka Doncic scored a game-high 29 points in 33 minutes, Kyrie Irving added 21 points on 10-of-18 shooting and Dereck Lively II became the second rookie in NBA history to record multiple double-doubles in the Finals with 11 points and 12 rebounds off the bench.

Lively also drained the first 3 of his career, becoming the youngest player in NBA Finals history to connect on a 3.

Dereck Lively II giving Dallas a big boost early!

First the triple, then the oop slam 😤

Mavs lead 21-14 | Game 4 on ABC pic.twitter.com/1tSANC0WTZ

— NBA (@NBA) June 15, 2024

Tim Hardaway Jr., who last scored on May 18, found his rhythm by sinking five late 3s to finish with 15 points in 12 minutes off the bench.

MORE: Mavericks looking to make history vs. Celtics in 2024 Finals

Mavericks vs. Celtics: By the numbers

• 38 points is the third-largest margin of victory in NBA Finals history
• The Mavericks scored more than 100 points for the first time in the 2024 NBA Finals
• Dallas' win snaps Boston's franchise-record 10-game playoff win streak
• Game 4 marked the third-largest margin of defeat in Celtics playoff history
• 84 points is the Celtics' lowest output since Game 7 of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals
• Boston's 35 first-half points are the fewest in any half since Joe Mazzulla took over as head coach in 2022
• Game 4 was Boston's first road loss of the 2024 NBA Playoffs

Biggest NBA Finals margins of victory

Game 4 between the Mavericks and Celtics is just the 18th NBA Finals game to be decided by 30 or more points. Dallas' 38-point win gives it the third-largest victory in NBA Finals history.