DALLAS - As the finality of a Game Three defeat began to sink in after a scrappy fourth-quarter comeback fell short, a full house American Airlines Airlines Center quickly began emptying.
By then, the building, once rocking and shaking with anticipation, had been deflated.
Celtics 106. Mavericks 99.
Boston is one game away from an elusive 18th NBA title while Dallas is 48 minutes away from being swept.
Mavericks fans have a lot to be thankful for in Luka Doncic but as Game Three hung in the balance late in the fourth quarter, Dallas' demise was largely the fault of its shining, shimmering star.
After the Mavericks sliced a 21-point deficit to 93-90 with 5:42 left to play, Doncic killed his team's momentum by constantly complaining to the refs while the Celtics ran on the other end for fastbreaks.
After missing a 3-foot bunny that could have allowed Dallas to edge even closer at 92-93, Doncic fouled out by committing two fouls in the span of 36 seconds.
THOSE WERE THE STRAWS THAT BROKE THE MAVERICKS.
As magnificent as he is as a generational talent, his already suspect defense didn't withstand the muster of Boston's relentless assault, one that started with a 21-9 first quarter barrage and ended with a 13-9 game-sealing kick.
In fairness to Luka, his mobility has been compromised by knee issues and a thoracic contusion, but there's just no excuse for waging a personal war with the refs while a bigger, more important one - the NBA Finals - was unfolding.
Luka had 27 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists in Game Three, a splendid effort eclipsed by the post-game chatter about his shortcomings.
The refs are not the enemy, the Celtics are, and these men in green are a mean fighting machine.
Jayson Tatum, whose own stardom was questioned after a timid Games One and Two production finally emerged with 31 points. His sidekick Jaylen Brown pumped 30 and both combined for 14 rebounds and 13 assists while sinking 23 of their 48 field goals.
At long last, Kyrie Irving showed up with 35 markers while PJ Washington, who had 3 threes in that 20-2 fourth-quarter rally, finished with 15. Derek Lively added 11.
BUT THE CELTICS PROVED DEEPER, BETTER.
Derrick White and Jrue Holiday had 25 points and 9 assists between them while Sam Hauser chipped in 9 off the bench.
The Celtics shot 46.3 percent from the field (38-of-82) and 37 percent from 3 (17-of-46) while their defense held Dallas to 9-of-25 shooting from long distance (36 percent) and 38 of 86 overall (44.2 percent).
While the Celtics cruised past Miami, Cleveland and Indiana in the East, Dallas went through the fires against the Clippers, Thunder and Wolves in the West.
The Mavericks have run out of magic against a complete Celtics team.
Game Four is looking like the coronation of the 2024 NBA champs.
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