Boston: The Celtics picked the most inopportune time to play their worst game of the season. Boston’s 122-84 Game 4 loss to Dallas had all kinds of superlatives, and none of them were good. It ended the Celtics’ 10-game playoff win streak.
It was the Celtics’ lowest scoring output of the season and marked the first time the Celtics have allowed the Mavericks to eclipse 100 points in the series on a stellar night for Dallas stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. It also reminded the Celtics that putting a championship bow on what has been one of the franchise’s most successful seasons will require the same resilience they’ve shown during a postseason in which they haven’t lost consecutive games. "It’s a learning lesson, for sure.
Got to show up and show out every night. They’re not going to roll over,” Celtics reserve Sam Hauser said. "They’re down 3-1 now.
They’re desperate. ..
. They’re not going to make it easy on us.” As humbling as Game 4's loss was, history will be on the Celtics’ side for Game 5.
While Friday’s loss was the seventh time that the Celtics have lost by 20 or more points in the finals, they are 5-1 in the previous six. The game Monday also falls on the 16th anniversary of Boston clinching its last championship in 2008. "It’s a great opportunity to respond,” said Celtics forward Jaylen Brown, whose finished Game 4 with a minus-19 plus-minus - his second-worst of these playoffs and third-worst of his entire playoff career.
"We ju.
