Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown helped the Boston Celtics maintain off a Dallas Mavericks fightback to take a commanding 3-0 lead within the NBA finals.
Tatum scored 31 factors and Brown 30 because the Celtics gained 106-99 in sport three of the best-of-seven sequence.
The Mavericks diminished their deficit from 91-70 early within the fourth quarter to 1 level with three and a half minutes left however failed to show a powerful comeback right into a victory.
Kyrie Irving scored a game-high 35 for Dallas, whereas team-mate Luka Doncic contributed 27 however fouled out of the sport with simply over 4 minutes remaining.
Boston are one win away from an 18th NBA title and first since 2008, with the following sport on Saturday (01:30 BST).
“We aren’t stress-free or something like that,” mentioned Tatum. “You understand, not even specializing in successful or no matter.
“Nonetheless lengthy it takes, that is our motto. Nonetheless lengthy it takes, that is what it is going to take. No person will not be making an attempt to loosen up in any respect.”
Brown added: “That was a big-time win for us, and I am happy with how we performed.
“They’d some momentum, however we stored our poise. We made well timed baskets.
“We acquired some good pictures getting into, and we discovered a strategy to win.”
The Mavericks must make historical past if they’re to assert the NBA title as no staff has ever recovered to win from 3-0 all the way down to win a play-off sequence.
“It isn’t over until it is over,” mentioned Doncic. “We have simply acquired to imagine.
“Like I all the time say, it is first to 4. We will keep collectively. We lose collectively, we win collectively.”