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  • Starts slow in Game 3 win
    White amassed 16 points (4-10 FG, 4-9 3Pt, 4-4 FT), five rebounds, four assists and two blocks in 42 minutes during Wednesday's 106-99 victory over the Mavericks in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

    Advice: White was ice-cold in the first half but hit some clutch second-half three-pointers to help Boston take a 3-0 Finals lead. His two blocks highlighted a Celtics defensive effort that once again held Dallas under 100 points. The veteran guard was one of four Boston starters to see over 40 minutes of run. White and his teammates will try to close out the Finals on Friday in Dallas. Rotowire.com Thursday, 5:42 am
     
  • Scores 30 in Game 3 win
    Brown finished Wednesday's 106-99 victory over Dallas in Game 3 of the NBA Finals with 30 points (12-22 FG, 2-9 3Pt, 4-5 FT), eight rebounds, eight assists and one block over 41 minutes.

    Advice: Brown continued his dominance on both sides of the court during Boston's Game 3 win. The star forward was quiet during the first half and posted only six points. But he exploded for another 24 in the second half, helping Boston stake a 3-0 Finals lead. He was also Boston's most efficient scorer while finishing two boards and two dimes short of a triple-double. His defensive effort also helped Boston keep Dallas under 100 points for the third consecutive game. Brown and his fellow Celtics will now look to sweep the Finals in Dallas on Friday. Rotowire.com Thursday, 5:32 am
     
  • 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 due to Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) being 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 Thursday, 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 Thursday, 5:06 am
     
  • Dereck Lively II drops double-double in Game 3
    Dereck Lively II played 30 minutes off the bench in Wednesday’s 106-99 loss to the Celtics, recording a line of 11 points (5-of-6 FGs, 1-of-1 FTs), 13 rebounds, one assist, and two steals.

    Advice: Lively and starter Daniel Gafford effectively have a timeshare at the center position, with Mavericks coach Jason Kidd tending to stick with the “hot hand.” The rookie was that player in Game 3, recording a double-double and also accumulating two steals. As for Gafford, he finished with six points, three rebounds, one assist, and one blocked shot in 16 minutes. The unpredictable nature of the minutes split makes it difficult to rely on Lively or Gafford in DFS, but the former proved to be a quality play on Wednesday. Rotoworld Wednesday, 8:48 pm
     
  • 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 Wednesday, 8:40 pm
     
  • Kyrie Irving rebounds, leads Mavs with 35 points
    Kyrie Irving shot 13-of-28 from the field and 5-of-5 from the foul line in Wednesday’s 106-99 loss to Boston, accounting for 35 points, three rebounds, two assists, and four 3-pointers in 45 minutes.

    Advice: Having struggled in the first two games of the NBA Finals, Irving apologized to teammate Luka Doncic between Games 2 and 3. He stepped up on Wednesday, knocking down four 3-pointers and scoring a game-high 35 points. Irving was at his best during the first half, shooting 8-of-14 from the field and scoring 20 points. However, like many of his teammates, things took a downward turn during the third quarter, and the Mavericks’ fourth-quarter rally was a case of “too little, too late.” Irving, who has lost his last 14 games against the Celtics, will look to avoid being swept on Friday night. Rotoworld Wednesday, 8:37 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 Wednesday, 8:32 pm
     
  • Derrick White hits four triples, scores 16 points
    Derrick White finished Wednesday’s 106-99 win over Dallas with 16 points (4-of-10 FGs, 4-of-4 FTs), five rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and four 3-pointers in 42 minutes.

    Advice: White has scored at least 15 points in seven of Boston’s last eight games, with the Game 3 win over Indiana in the Eastern Conference Finals being the exception. On Wednesday, he hit four 3-pointers for the second straight game, providing solid offensive production on a night when stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined to score 61 points. White has also blocked two shots in two straight games, totaling 11 rejections in his last five. He and the Celtics will look to close out the series on Friday night, and no team in NBA history has blown a 3-0 lead. So, if the Celtics don’t finish it on Friday, the odds are still overwhelmingly in their favor. Rotoworld Wednesday, 8:29 pm