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  • Plays 11 minutes in Game 3 win
    Tillman closed with three points (1-1 FG, 1-1 3Pt), four rebounds and two blocks in 11 minutes during Wednesday's 106-99 win over Dallas in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

    Advice: It was Tillman, not Luke Kornet, who picked up the slack at center with Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) out. Coach Joe Mazzulla clearly preferred Tillman switching on Mavericks star Luka Doncic on pick-and-rolls, and the move paid off. Tillman got multiple stops when forced to guard Doncic. Tillman also hit a clutch corner three during a key second-half Boston scoring run. His four boards and two blocks were just what the Celtics needed while managing 38-year-old Al Horford's workload. Tillman and his teammates will look to finish the Finals in Dallas on Friday. Rotowire.com Today, 5:16 am
     
  • Explodes for 31 points in Game 3
    Tatum ended with 31 points (11-26 FG, 4-13 3Pt, 5-5 FT), six rebounds, five assists and one steal over 42 minutes during Wednesday's 106-99 victory over the Mavericks in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

    Advice: After relatively poor scoring in Games 1 and 2, Tatum paced the Celtics with 31 points on what was still a poor shooting night for the All-NBA forward. The absence of Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) forced Tatum and Jaylen Brown (30 points) to shoulder more of the scoring load. Tatum was up for the challenge. He is still shooting a poor 35.9 from the field during the Finals, but a 3-0 lead is likely more important to the seven-year veteran. Tatum and the Celtics will look to finish the Finals in Dallas on Friday. Rotowire.com Today, 5:06 am
     
  • PJ Washington hits three triples, scores 13 points
    PJ Washington played 39 minutes in Wednesday’s loss to the Celtics, accumulating 13 points (3-of-9 FGs, 4-of-6 FTs), eight rebounds, two assists, and three 3-pointers.

    Advice: Washington had a good night from beyond the arc, shooting 3-of-6. However, he missed all three of his two-point attempts, and the 13 points weren’t enough to supplement the efforts of Kyrie Irving (35 points) and Luka Doncic (27). Washington has reached double figures in all three games of the NBA Finals, but it’s difficult for a third scorer to get into a groove when the two stars are as ball-dominant as Doncic and Irving. Dallas must win on Friday to avoid becoming the first team to be swept in the NBA Finals since Cleveland in 2018. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:40 pm
     
  • Xavier Tillman tallies four boards, two blocks
    Xavier Tillman logged 11 minutes in Wednesday’s 106-99 win over Dallas, accumulating three points (1-of-1 FGs), four rebounds, two blocks, and one 3-pointer.

    Advice: With Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) sidelined, Tillman was the first big off the Celtics bench on Wednesday. While there were a few hiccups on the defensive end, he still offered solid production in the rebound and blocked shot categories. Starter Al Horford also benefitted from Porzingis’ absence, logging 37 minutes and recording a line of eight points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals, one block, and two 3-pointers. While Horford is a more viable DFS option if Porzingis remains out for Friday’s Game 4, Tillman is not. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:32 pm
     
  • Jaylen Brown records 30/8/8/0/1 line in Game 3 win
    Jaylen Brown played 41 minutes in Wednesday’s win over Dallas, amassing 30 points (12-of-22 FGs, 4-of-5 FTs), eight rebounds, eight assists, one block, and two 3-pointers.

    Advice: While Jayson Tatum’s perceived struggles were a dominant talking point after the first two games of the NBA Finals, Brown has been elite throughout. In Game 3, he became the first Celtics player since John Havlicek in 1968 to tally at least 30 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists in an NBA Finals game. After winning Eastern Conference Finals MVP honors, Brown is the betting favorite to win NBA Finals MVP. Boston will look to close out the series on Friday night, and a win would give the franchise its first title since 2008. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:16 pm
     
  • Jayson Tatum shines in Game 3, scores 31 points
    Jayson Tatum played 42 minutes in Wednesday’s 106-99 win over Dallas, tallying 31 points (11-of-26 FGs, 5-of-5 FTs), six rebounds, five assists, one steal, and four 3-pointers.

    Advice: The critics wanted more scoring from Tatum after his production was limited in the first two games of the NBA Finals, and that’s what they got in Game 3. He shot 6-of-14 from the field in the first half and was generally more aggressive offensively. The 31 points are the most Tatum had scored in a game since Boston’s Game 3 win over the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals when he dropped in 36. The Celtics are one win away from their first championship since 2008, and Wednesday’s performance may have put Tatum back in play for series MVP honors. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:06 pm
     
  • Could miss rest of Finals
    The Celtics have "real doubt" that Porzingis (lower leg) will be able to return to action at any point during the NBA Finals matchup against the Mavericks, Adrian Wojnarowski reported prior to Wednesday's Game 3 on ESPN's NBA Countdown.

    Advice: Porzingis was initially labeled questionable for Wednesday's game due to a left posterior tibialis dislocation but wasn't cleared by the Celtics' medical staff ahead of the contest. The 28-year-old voiced his willingness to do whatever it took to play leading up to Wednesday's tilt, but he may not be medically cleared to suit up before the series ends. Porzingis had missed 10 straight games before the NBA Finals with a calf strain that's unrelated to his lower leg injury, but he was a key contributor off the bench in the Celtics' Games 1 and 2 wins. Al Horford should continue to start at center while Luke Kornet, Xavier Tillman and Oshae Brissett are candidates to see action behind Horford. Porzingis should be viewed as questionable, at best, leading up to Friday's Game 4. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 5:06 pm
     
  • Kristaps Porzingis (leg) downgraded to out Weds.
    Kristaps Porzingis (left posterior tibialis dislocation) is out for Wednesday’s game against the Mavericks.

    Advice: Injured during the third quarter of Sunday’s Game 2 victory, his second since returning from a right soleus strain, Porizingis was initially questionable for Game 3. His absence means more minutes for starting center Al Horford, with Luke Kornet possibly entering the rotation. Kornet is not a viable option for DFS tournaments, while Horford takes on added value. Rotoworld Yesterday, 3:58 pm
     
  • Ruled out for Game 3
    Porzingis has been ruled out for Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Mavericks on Wednesday due to a left posterior tibialis dislocation.

    Advice: Porzingis played through the pain for a couple of minutes after suffering the injury during the third quarter of Game 2 on Sunday and was doing everything he could to suit up for Game 3, but the medical staff is shutting him down for at least one game. When Porzingis was sidelined earlier in the postseason, Luke Kornet, Xavier Tillman and Oshae Brissett were part of the rotation at times. However, Al Horford will continue to start at center and should be the biggest beneficiary of Porzingis' absence. Porzingis can be considered day-to-day ahead of Friday's Game 4 in Dallas. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 3:49 pm