The Celtics didn’t have Kristaps Porzingis for Game 3 of the NBA Finals, but it didn’t matter in the end, partly because of the player who replaced him.
Xavier Tillman provided key minutes for the Celtics as their backup big on Wednesday, assisting with enough of a boost to lift Boston to a 106-99 win and take a 3-0 series lead. He only had three points in 11 minutes of action, but it was what he did on the defensive end that led the Celtics to outscore the Mavericks by nine when he was on the court in Game 3.