Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics couldn't come away with the sweep against the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals after losing Game 4 in blowout fashion 122-84 on Friday.
After three strong games from the Celtics, it was all Dallas as the Mavericks kept their season alive for at least one more game.
It was a rough game all around for Boston as Tatum led the way with 15, Sam Hauser added 14 and Jrue Holiday and Jaylen Brown had just 10 points each.
Meanwhile for the Mavericks, the star pairing of Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving had a strong night, combining for 50 points. Dončić had 29 while Irving added 21.
After the blowout loss, fans trolled the Celtics for failing to show up in Game 4:
Shea Serrano @SheaSerranothe celtics have to do is close the game on a 32-0 run and they'll only lose the game by 2
incognito tab #3 @notcrypticnoCeltics first team to lose a 3-0 lead<br><br>We need it . <a href="">
Thomas Carrieri @Thomas_CarrieriThe Celtics in the first half. <a href="">
HEAT NATION @ZachpppImagine the Celtics are the first team in NBA history to blow a 3-0 lead
𝘞𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘌𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘢𝘴𝘵 (Cooked) @Warriorsbball30Jayson Tatums first game in the finals where he was the best player on the Celtics is in a 40 point blowout <a href="">
²³𝙻𝚎𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚜🏀☄️🌎💞 @BronGotGameMavs could end up giving the Celtics the highest blowout in NBA finals history
GRXY @iGrXYYYWhat the Mavs doing to the Celtics is nasty
loni talks too much. @harlslovesivyCeltics with 52 pts with 3 minutes left in the 3rd quarter vs the mavs 88…just quit man
Robbie Robison @uscmanrobDamn, the Celtics aren't even trying to win tonight.
Football Jesus @david_mceneaneyIt would be so Celtics to lose this series <a href="">#curseofbrady</a> still alive!
Luckily for the Celtics, their poor performance came when they were already up 3-0 rather than earlier in the series. But Boston will need to up the intensity in Game 5 to avoid another loss and allow the Mavericks to gain momentum.
While it would improbable, Dallas is looking to make history by overcoming a 3-0 deficit. The Mavericks got closer to that goal with their dominant win on Friday, and now they'll look to continue crawling back.
Game 5 of the series will take place in Boston on Monday, when the Celtics will look to put the series to rest and claim their 18th championship.