Starting 5, June 12: Game 3 of NBA Finals tonight in Dallas – NBA.com

Will Game 3 put the Celtics one win away from title No. 18, or will it be the first step towards a Mavs comeback?
That back at home feeling.
Luka and the Mavs have the Finals back in Dallas for the first time in 13 years.

THE LINEUP 🏀
What’s inside today’s edition? 
Game 3 In 1 minute: Everything you need to know ahead of tonight’s tipoff
Mavs ready to rally? What the Mavs had to say ahead of tonight’s critical Game 3
Celtics staying focused: The Celtics are up 2-0, but say they’re trying to play like they’re down
On the ground: Go behind the scenes in Dallas with Keyonte George and Lethal Shooter
Best of Game 3s: Look back at the top moments from Game 3s of past Finals
BUT FIRST … ⏰
The remaining Finals schedule …

Tonight, Dallas hosts its first Finals game since 2011 when the Mavs and Celtics meet at 8:30 ET on ABC
Before tip-off, test your knowledge by listing the players to score 40+ points in a Finals game over the past 10 years
Countdown To Game 3: Head to the NBA App now to stream some of history’s most iconic Game 3s leading up to tonight
1. GAME 3 IN 1 MINUTE

The history: Teams that go down 2-0 in the Finals have a 22-14 record in Game 3s, but no club has ever climbed out of a 3-0 hole in Playoff history.
The question: Can the Mavs turn things around in Dallas and cut their 2-0 deficit in half, or will the Celtics take a commanding 3-0 lead?
At your fingertips is everything you need to know for tonight’s Game 3 (8:30 ET, ABC).

Can’t Miss Content Ahead Of Game 3
2. MAVS READY TO RALLY?
After dropping a 2nd straight game in Boston, the Mavericks must get more out of Kyrie Irving and the supporting cast in Game 3.
The Mavs don’t have to look far to find someone that’s been in their position before – trailing 2-0 in the NBA Finals.
Kyrie with the 2017 Cavs and Mavs coach Jason Kidd with the 2002 Nets have also been on the wrong end of a 2-0 deficit – with Irving and the Cavs losing in five games and Kidd and the Nets being swept.

Kyrie knows that Luka Doncic and the Mavs need more from him in order to get back in this series.
The Mavs are excited to be home – where they went 26-15 in the regular season and 5-3 so far in the Playoffs – and hope the change of venue can bring some buckets after Dallas shot just 24.5% from 3 in the first two games in Boston.
3. CELTICS STAYING FOCUSED
Jaylen Brown discusses his focus heading into Game 3 of the Finals with Boston up 2-0 against the Mavericks.
Teams that go up 2-0 in the Finals have won the series 86.1% of the time, but the Celtics weren’t interested in percentages during yesterday’s media session.

Through two games this series, Boston has held Dallas to just 1.0 points per possession, its worst two-game stretch of offense this season with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving both in the lineup.
But Kristaps Porzingis, Boston’s highest-rated defender thus far in the Finals (min. 20 mpg), is uncertain for Game 3 with a leg injury.
Next Man Up: The Celtics are 9-1 this postseason without Porzingis, who suffered a calf strain in the First Round before returning for the Finals.
4. ON THE GROUND IN DALLAS

Game 3 Media Session: Keyonte George of the Utah Jazz and Skills Coach Lethal Shooter hit the hardwood in Dallas on Tuesday as NBA correspondents at the Finals.
Keyonte discussed what it meant to see fellow Dallas native P.J. Washington playing for the Mavs in the Finals, received advice from Kyrie Irving and reflected with fellow rookie Dereck Lively II on their first NBA seasons.
Lethal Shooter caught up with his client Jaylen Brown, spoke on what it means to see him in the Finals and praised both teams’ focus at practice following their media sessions.
5. NBA FINALS: TOP GAME 3 MOMENTS
Before tonight’s Game 3, we look back at some of the best moments and performances from Game 3s of past NBA Finals – including four teams that overcame a 2-0 deficit to win the title.
Top Game 3 Moments: Before 2000 | Since 2000
1970: After Dave DeBusschere’s jumper put the Knicks up two with three seconds left, Jerry West launched a 60-footer that dropped to force overtime. The Knicks prevailed in OT, 111-108
1984: On the same night he dished out a Finals record 21 assists, Magic Johnson kept this shot for himself, finishing the reverse layup as the Lakers took a 2-1 lead on the Celtics
1977: Bill Walton (20 pts, 18 reb, 9 ast, 4 blk) had not one, but two, big dunks down the stretch to lead Portland to a 129-107 win. The 1977 Blazers are one of the five teams to come back from down 2-0 to win the Finals
1998: Michael Jordan somehow finished this up-and-under layup while being fouled by Utah’s Greg Ostertag as the Bulls posted the largest margin of victory in a Finals game (42 pts) with a 96-54 win
2016: Down 2-0 in the series, LeBron James (32 pts, 11 reb, 6 ast) and the Cavs opened the 3rd quarter on a 19-5 run, including this do-it-all play from LeBron (steal, recovery and slam – off the assist from Kyrie Irving). This was the first step in Cleveland’s historic rally to win the title
2017: Kevin Durant hit this pull-up 3-pointer over LeBron James to put the Warriors up for good with 45 seconds left. The Warriors won the game, 118-113, and the series in five games
1994: Hakeem Olajuwon (21 pts, 11 reb, 7 ast, 7 blk) pulled out the spin and slam from his bag as the Rockets defeated the Knicks at MSG, 93-89, to go up 2-1 in a series they would win in seven games
2010: Derek Fisher hit this clutch-and-1 fast-break layup, somehow getting the shot to fall while facing three Boston defenders and getting fouled. The Lakers would win to go up 2-1 and won the series in seven games
2006: With the game tied in the game’s closing seconds, Gary Payton made the only shot he took all game to put the Heat up for good with 9.3 seconds left. Dwyane Wade (42 pts, 13 reb) and Miami took the first step toward rallying back from 2-0 to win the Finals
2021: Phoenix’s Cam Johnson had the play of the day with this poster dunk, but it was Milwaukee that prevailed as the Bucks began a four-game win streak to take the Finals after going down 2-0
Boston has built a 2-0 series lead on the strength of its defense, while Dallas is looking for answers from its star duo.
From Bill Russell's ankle in 1958 to Kevin Durant's Achilles tendon in 2019, injuries have long been a factor in the Finals.
20-year NBA veteran Jamal Crawford makes his NBA Finals prediction and answers 20 questions on Dallas, Boston and more.
As the series heads to Dallas, can Boston maintain momentum on the road or will the Mavs stand tall in Game 3?
Boston has built a 2-0 series lead on the strength of its defense, while Dallas is looking for answers from its star duo.
From Bill Russell's ankle in 1958 to Kevin Durant's Achilles tendon in 2019, injuries have long been a factor in the Finals.
20-year NBA veteran Jamal Crawford makes his NBA Finals prediction and answers 20 questions on Dallas, Boston and more.
As the series heads to Dallas, can Boston maintain momentum on the road or will the Mavs stand tall in Game 3?
Jalen Wilson leads the way for Brooklyn, finishing with 25 points on 8-for-14 shooting with 7 rebounds and 2 assists.
Bronny James makes his Summer League debut in Las Vegas, showcasing the developmental stages of an evolving game.
Reed Sheppard scores 23 points with 5 assists and 3 blocks while shooting 9-for-17 from the field and 4-for-6 from deep.
With No. 9 overall pick Zach Edey getting the night off, Jake LaRavia steps up with 22 points and 6 steals for Memphis.
The 27th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Terrence Shannon Jr. leads the Wolves with 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting.
Jett Howard and Anthony Black combine for 42 points in Orlando's rout of Cleveland.

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