The 2024 NBA Finals matchup might be finalized sooner than we thought as the Dallas Mavericks took a 3-0 lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night and the Boston Celtics look to close out their series against the Indiana Pacers on Monday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN).
No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series, but the Pacers and Timberwolves will attempt to do so as we head into this week of elimination games.
In the West, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving have been an unstoppable duo, accounting for 77% of the Mavericks’ total points in this series. Meanwhile, Wolves stars Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns have struggled from distance, going a combined 0-for-10 from 3 during Game 3.
In the East, the Celtics are the clear favorites to make another Finals appearance, posting a net rating of 11.4 through 13 playoff games with an 11-2 record. And now, without their star guard Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers will have to rally behind Pascal Siakam who’s averaging 24.7 points, 5 assists and 6.7 rebounds in the conference finals.
Our NBA insiders break down the biggest questions heading into these crucial Game 4s, including how Kristaps Porzingis’ return could further shift Boston’s playoff run in its favor and how prepared Doncic and Irving’s Mavs will be in a potential matchup against the Celtics.
