The Dallas Mavericks are still alive in the 2024 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. The Mavs prevented a Celtics sweep and championship on Friday, blowing out Boston in Game 4. The Celtics still have a 3-1 series lead and they’ll have the chance to win the title on their home floor in Game 5, which is set for Monday night.
No team has ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit in NBA playoff history in 156 previous attempts. Only four teams in a 3-0 hole have ever forced a Game 7, including the Celtics in last year’s Eastern Conference finals.
Every 2024 NBA Finals game will air on ABC and will be streaming on fubo (try for free). Check out the full NBA Finals schedule below.
Celtics vs. Mavericks Game 5 info
Time: 8:30 p.m ET | Date: Monday, June 17
Location: TD Garden — Boston
TV channel: ABC | Streaming: fubo
2024 NBA Finals schedule
Game 1
Thursday, June 6: Celtics 107, Mavericks 89 (Boston leads 1-0)
Game 2
Sunday, June 9: Celtics 105, Mavericks 98 (Boston leads 2-0)
Game 3
Wednesday, June 12: Celtics 109, Mavericks 66 (Boston leads 3-0)
Game 4
Friday, June 14: Mavericks 122, Celtics 84 (Boston leads 3-1)
Game 5
Monday, June 17: Celtics vs. Mavericks, ABC/fubo
Game 6*
Thursday, June 20: Mavericks vs. Celtics, ABC/fubo
Game 7*
Sunday, June 23: Celtics vs. Mavericks, ABC/fubo
The Mavericks won their first and only championship in 2011 as Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas to the title 13 years ago. It was also their last appearance in the NBA Finals.
The Celtics have won 17 championships in their franchise history, but they actually have a longer title drought than the Mavs. Boston’s last NBA title came in 2008. The Celtics — who fell in the conference finals to the Heat last season — last made the NBA Finals in 2022, but they lost against the Warriors in six games.
2024 NBA Finals odds
- Entering the series: Celtics: -230, Mavericks +180
- Entering Game 5: Celtics -3500, Mavericks +1200
Game 5 pick, prediction
The NBA Finals has a rich history of putting its champions through one last test before their coronation. Remember Denver’s Game 5 rock fight with Miami last year, when the Nuggets had to prove they could win with defense and physicality? The Warriors needed to overcome one last Draymond Green controversy in 2022 when he was benched down the stretch of Game 4. Giannis Antetokounmpo needed to beat the Suns from the foul line, and he made 17-of-19 attempts on the way to 50 points in the Game 6 clincher.
There’s always some narrative or weakness that comes back up, once last time, before the champs become the champs. Well, what has been the narrative surrounding Boston? The Celtics play down to the level of their competition, they mess around and let inferior teams hang around. They did that in Game 4 and got blown out. They learned their lesson. They’re going to come out for Game 5 ready to end that notion once and for all. The Pick: Celtics -6.5
— Sam Quinn
