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  • 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
     
  • 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
     
  • 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 Wednesday, 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 Wednesday, 8:06 pm
     
  • Luka Doncic scores 27 points before fouling out
    Luka Doncic shot 11-of-27 from the field and 4-of-4 from the foul line in Wednesday’s loss to the Celtics, accounting for 27 points, six rebounds, six assists, one steal, and one 3-pointer in 38 minutes.

    Advice: Doncic failed to hit the 40-minute mark in Game 3, as he fouled out with 4:12 remaining in the fourth quarter. He did produce a solid point total, but the efficiency was lacking, especially from beyond the arc. Doncic shot 1-of-7 from three and was visibly frustrated with the officiating throughout. No team has even come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-7 series in the NBA, so there’s no denying that Dallas faces near-impossible odds. If they’re to send the series back to Boston for Game 5, they need a more focused Doncic, especially defensively. Rotoworld Wednesday, 8:01 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 Wednesday, 5:06 pm