After a pair of crucial fourth games took place in the conference semifinals on Sunday, two more are on the line Monday night.
On Saturday, the Boston Celtics took control of their series with the Cleveland Cavaliers thanks to a pair of big performances from stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, earning a 106-93 victory to bounce back from a Game 2 loss. The Dallas Mavericks got a second straight boost from PJ Washington, who scored 27 points and hit five 3-pointers to give Dallas a 2-1 lead against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
All four teams will meet once again on Monday night, with the Celtics and Mavericks looking to be on the verge of advancing to the conference finals, and the Cavaliers and Thunder trying to even things up and turn both series into best-of-breed affairs. of three. .
Here's a look at how both series got here and what will be the keys to keep in mind for each team heading into Game 4.
How the Celtics built a 2-1 lead
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Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combine for 61 as Celtics take Game 3
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combine for 61 as the Celtics rally to take Game 3 against the Cavaliers.
After their last pair of mixed performances at home in the playoffs, continuing a trend that has continued in recent postseasons, Boston turned in an exemplary defensive performance in Game 3 to regain control of this series.
While Donovan Mitchell had another sensational game, scoring 33 points and hitting seven 3-pointers, the rest of the Cavaliers combined to score 60 points and were 5 of 24 from 3-point range. If you take Evan Mobley's 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting out of the equation, the numbers become even more dismal: 43 points on 33% shooting.
There's a lot of focus on Boston's league-leading offense and the number of three-pointers the Celtics shoot, but at their best they also have a suffocating defense, with few weaknesses (especially in their starting lineup) that can wear down their team. . adversary. In the two games of this series that Boston has won, that has been the formula: let Mitchell get what he wants and limit the rest of his teammates.
Key to Boston: Al Horford's energy
Although the Celtics won Game 3, there was a worrying trend, if not for this series, but as the playoffs continue: Horford looked tired.
It's hard to blame him. Horford, three weeks shy of his 38th birthday and in his 17th NBA season, played 40 minutes in Game 3. He ended up going 1 of 7 from the field, including 0 of 6 from 3-point range, and struggled. to defend the drives. That was especially notable when trading Mitchell; The Cavaliers average 1.64 points per pick on 30 on-ball screens when Mitchell is the ball handler and Horford is the protective defender, according to ESPN Stats and Information.
This is where the loss of Kristaps Porzingis could have an effect on Boston as the playoffs progress. At this stage of his career, Horford should be much closer to the total minutes he averaged during the regular season (26.8 per game) than playing close to 40.
Game 3 was the first competitive matchup the Celtics played since Porzingis was injured. This is something to monitor in the future, as even when Porzingis returns, there will be some limitations on his availability while he recovers from a calf strain.
Center Luke Kornet has played some solid minutes, but Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla always opts to shoot when possible, and Horford made 41.9% of his three-pointers during the regular season. So if the game is close, he's likely going to be out there for a lot of minutes.
Key for Cleveland: finding offense beyond Mitchell
Can Cleveland change anything for Game 4 besides making more shots?
The obvious move to consider is using a different starting lineup, specifically, replacing Isaac Okoro. Okoro was 3-for-8 from deep in Game 1 and shot 39.1% on 3 attempts per game during the regular season, but Boston hasn't been shy about putting Horford on Okoro and letting him get open looks.
While Okoro was sensational in Cleveland's Game 2 victory, with his energy helping to swing the game in Cleveland's favor, in his two losses he is a -38 in 45 minutes played. Okoro was also -17 in 17 minutes in Game 3 after missing all four of his 3-point attempts.
Cleveland could also opt to increase Dean Wade's minutes. Wade returned after a long absence with a knee injury in Game 3, and although he was 1 of 4 from 3 in 17 minutes, he was plus-12.
— Bontemps
How the Mavericks built a 2-1 lead
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Mavs' trio of stars combine for 71 in Game 3 victory
Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and PJ Washington score a combined 71 points to secure a thrilling 105-101 Mavericks victory against the Thunder in Game 3.
Dallas' all-star duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving have averaged a combined 40.3 points per game so far in this series, 19.2 points less than their regular-season production.
The Thunder, the third defensive team in the league, have managed to contain one of the most explosive tandems in the league. Dallas is dealing with Doncic's right knee sprain and left ankle soreness and Luguentz Dort's blunt defensive prowess. Irving is patiently picking his spots, not wanting to force an Oklahoma City defense that is planning to attack him, like the Thunder are doing against Doncic.
But the Mavs still managed to build a 2-1 series lead, thanks in large part to the sudden turnaround by Washington, who averaged 28.0 points in consecutive Dallas wins.
“We're not built on one man. We're built on the team,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said after Game 3. “So if Luka is hurt, the next man is next and someone is going to have to pick him up. “It's not just Kai.” , it's the other guys… That's what makes the beauty of the sport, that it's a team, it's not golf where we only have a player and a caddy.
Key for Dallas: Washington stays hot from the 3rd
“PJ Washington,” groaned Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander when the series' surprise star was mentioned, shaking his head. “Mmm, mmm, mmm.”
With Doncic and Irving as focal points of Oklahoma City's defensive game plan, the Thunder entered the series willing to live with Washington getting decent looks from 3-point range. It's a statistically logical strategy, considering Washington shot 32.0% from beyond the arc this season. And he actually dropped to 31.4% after being traded to Dallas at the deadline despite playing alongside two top-tier playmakers.
Washington, however, could make the Thunder reconsider. He's made 12 of his 23 3-point attempts in the last two games and 7 of 15 from the corners in the wins over OKC. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Washington is 16 of 35 (45.7%) on corner 3-pointers in the playoffs, the most makes and attempts from that location by any player this postseason.
“It's open for a reason,” Irving said. “That was part of their game plan, so we have to make them pay for that. Now that they've had two good games, we have to hope that in Game 4 they come out with a different fit. We just want to continue to give them confidence. Keep that elbow right into the shoe poster because it looks beautiful right now.”
Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault has a decision to make. Will the Thunder continue to play the percentage game by challenging Washington to shoot or will they stop helping him so aggressively and risk making the Mavs' stars nervous?
Key to OKC: Get production from actors
Daigneault has stuck firmly with Josh Giddey in the starting lineup through many ups and downs throughout the season.
“I think it's important for every player, good, bad, whatever, to step back and look at the big picture, and the big picture is that he's been a very productive player for a long time,” Daigneault said the day after the game. . 1. “He is 21 years old. He will be a very productive player for a long time in the future.”
The smaller picture is that Giddey hasn't been a productive player in this series, and Daigneault has responded by drastically cutting the point guard's playing time. Those limited minutes are still a huge problem. Oklahoma City has been outscored by 28 points in the 41 minutes Giddey has played in the three games and is +37 in 103 minutes with him off the court.
The Thunder need production, particularly perimeter shooting, from Giddey's backups.
Aaron Wiggins, Cason Wallace and Isaiah Joe combined to shoot 7 of 11 from 3-point range in Oklahoma City's Game 1 victory. They are 6 for 17 in the two losses, including a combined 2 for 10 from Wiggins and Wallace.
The Mavs' main defensive focus is to clog driving lanes for Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, which will create open looks for others. Oklahoma City needs its role players to rise to the occasion like Washington did with the Mavs.
-MacMahon
