Check the Game 4 flow chart over at NBA.com and the growing lead for the Mavericks looks like a tidal wave gaining size and momentum. It got bad in the first quarter then worse by halftime then nearly the worst loss in NBA Finals history.
Open up the box score and there are some glaring statistical anomalies that tell the story of the Celtics’ 39-point loss in their first chance to close out the Mavericks.
There’s the monstrous twenty-six rebounding edge that Dallas muscled for 16 second chance points. Dereck Lively II alone had seven offensive rebounds and three loud dunks.