The Dallas Mavericks face the Boston Celtics in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., where the team will look to begin a comeback in their first home game of the series.
Dallas has been led in this postseason by guards Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, who have combined for an average of 50.9 points, 13.4 rebounds, and 13.6 assists per game through 19 games.
Doncic has shot 44.6% from the field and 34.8% from the three-point line, while Irving has converted 47% of his shots from the field and 39.1% of his three-point attempts.
Dallas is coming off a loss in Game 2, in which neither team was able to convert efficiently from the field. The Mavericks shot 23.1% from the three-point line, while the Celtics shot only 25.6% from the three-point line.
Shooting struggles have become a theme in the first two games of these NBA Finals, with many Mavericks players unable to convert on wide-open jump shot opportunities.
Outside of Doncic, the Mavericks have made just 5/23 of field goal attempts that the NBA considers to be “wide open,” meaning there is no defender within six feet of the shooter.
In contrast, the Celtics have made 14/39 attempts, meaning Boston has been able to generate more attempts while also making those attempts at a higher rate than the Mavericks.
Despite these struggles through two games, Doncic told his teammates to “keep shooting” because he knows they’ll start making their shots.
“We all believe in those shots. That’s how we came to the Finals. That’s how we played the whole season. We believe in those guys. Everybody believes. If you’re open, just keep shooting. You’re going to knock it down at some point,” said Doncic, per the NBA.
The Mavericks enter Game 3 with Doncic as the lone player listed on the injury report. The guard is listed as questionable to play due to a chest injury but said he is “feeling good” and is expected to suit up.
Boston currently has only center Kristaps Porzingis listed on the team’s injury report. He is dealing with a lower leg injury that makes him questionable for Game 2.
Porzingis has a torn medial retinaculum that could keep him out for an indefinite amount of time if the Boston medical staff does not deem him playable. Celtics Head Coach Joe Mazzulla described the setback as a “serious injury,” according to Bleacher Report.
A win in Game 2 would jumpstart the Mavericks’ potential comeback, which is seen as difficult since, per CBS Sports, teams that have gone down 0-2 in the Finals have a series record of 5-31 in all of NBA history.
Irving discussed how the team is feeling about making a series comeback, saying that it will be “the hardest thing that we’ve ever done” and that the team has to approach the remaining games with a “possession-by-possession” mindset, per the Dallas Mavericks.
