The Dallas Mavericks kept their NBA Finals hopes alive with a 122-84 victory to deny the Boston Celtics a clean sweep in the best-of-seven championship series.
Luka Doncic top-scored with 29 points while Kyrie Irving added 21 as the Mavericks ended their opponents’ 10-game play-off winning streak and claimed the third-largest win in Finals history.
But they still have a mountain to climb as they try to become the first team to come from 3-0 down and win an NBA play-off series, with game five to come in Boston on Tuesday (01:30 BST).
“We knew we have to get it, we can’t lose no more,” said the Slovenian. “As we always say, we’re going to believe until the end.
“I think our energy was way higher. Everybody was locked in defensively.”
Doncic and Irving helped their side go 34-21 up after the first quarter, and they dominated defensively after that to lead 61-35 at the break.
The Mavs were up 92-57 when the pair left the game with one minute and 29 seconds left in the third quarter.
IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES
Image caption: Former Spain defender Sergio Ramos met Doncic before the game
Tim Hardaway Jr added 15 points off the bench for Dallas and 20-year-old rookie Dereck Lively II added 11.
Boston coach Joe Mazzulla also took his starters out in the third period as they looked towards game five, which will be their next chance to clinch an 18th NBA crown and break clear of a tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most titles.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown managed only 15 and 10 points respectively for the Celtics as they suffered their worst loss in Finals history.
“I thought they played with a ton of energy and physicality,” said Mazzulla. “And they are a great team, that’s the reason why they are here when they play like that.”