The Celtics and Mavericks are facing off in the NBA Finals. Keep up with the Globe staff at Game 4. - The Boston Globe (2024)

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Mavericks 45, Celtics 25 | 6:35, 2nd

Joe Mazzulla calls a timeout to stop the bleeding — 9:27 p.m.

Doncic knocks down a jumper, and Dallas leads by 20. Rough first half for the Celtics, who have been outscored by Doncic and Irving, 27-25, so far in Game 4. Joe Mazzulla needs a timeout with the Mavericks leading, 45-25, with 6:35 to play. — Amin Touri

It’s looking rough out there — 9:25 p.m.

“MVP” cheers start to echo here at the American Airlines Center as Luka’s free throw makes it 43-25 Mavs with 6:55 to play.

Derrick White responds by airballing his fifth 3-point attempt of the game. — Katie McInerney

Points have been hard to come by for the Celtics — 9:20 p.m.

It takes until 9:35 for the Celtics to score their first point of the second quarter. They trail, 39-22. — Katie McInerney

Payton Pritchard has missed his first two shots of the second quarter. He’s now 1 for 15 in the series. We remember the 1.

Another miss. 1 for 16. — Chad Finn

Things are getting out of hand for Boston — 9:15 p.m.

Dante Exum slices through the middle of the Celtics defense for a layup then drills a 3-pointer to put Dallas up 18. The Mavericks lead, 39-21.

The Celtics showed how quickly a lead can evaporate in Game 3, but they can’t be comfortable with this big lead that the Mavericks are building. — Khari Thompson

It’s hard to compete when a team has a trio of superstars like Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and Dante Exum. — Amin Touri

Exum was the pick before Marcus Smart in the 2014 draft. It’s been a long journey to superstardom for him. — Chad Finn

Mavericks 34, Celtics 21 | End of 1st

Dallas has a double-digit lead at the end of the first quarter — 9:07 p.m.

Kyrie Irving can’t get a buzzer-beating shot off at the end of the first quarter after Payton Pritchard turns the ball over with three seconds left. It’s 34-21, Dallas. Ties their biggest lead for the series so far. — Katie McInerney

The big guns arrived in the first quarter, with 13 points for Luka Doncic, 11 for Jayson Tatum, and 9 for Kyrie Irving. Dallas outscored Boston 19-8 over the last 5:30 of the opening period. — Amin Touri

Well, if the Celtics are going to give up 34 points in a quarter, we very well may find ourselves back in Boston for a Game 5. Doncic and Kyrie are hitting shots. Lively is providing a spark. The Mavericks look energized. — Khari Thompson

Dallas already has four offensive rebounds, and the Mavs are outrebounding the Celtics overall 11-8.

Here’s something you don’t see often. Jrue Holiday was minus-16 in the first quarter. — Chad Finn

A change in strategy for the Mavericks — 9:05 p.m.

Jason Kidd noted earlier this week that the Celtics have been hunting Luka Doncic on defense. Kidd said Boston put a bullseye on Doncic’s chest. We’ve seen a lot of Doncic guarding Al Horford tonight, instead of the Jays. — Khari Thompson

Dallas is hot out of the gate — 9:02 p.m.

Back-to-back buckets from Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic — the latter off a Doncic steal — cap off a 10-run, before a Jayson Tatum drive stops the bleeding. Mavericks have jumped out to a 26-16 lead with 2:18 to go in the first. — Amin Touri

Mark Cuban and the Sharks make an appearance — 9:00 p.m.

The video board just showed the cast of “Shark Tank,” which features Mavericks owner Mark Cuban among its panelists. They chanted “Let’s Go Mavs!” while holding signs that say “BELIEVE” — the same as the one from the show “Ted Lasso.” I do not think Mark Cuban was in Ted Lasso. — Katie McInerney

Xavier Tillman comes off the bench — 8:55 p.m.

Some early minutes for Xavier Tillman with Kristaps Porzingis’s availability limited. He scored three quick points off a layup and a made free throw, but Luka Doncic got 3 free-throw attempts by luring Tillman into contact with him behind the line. — Khari Thompson

Tillman was the first sub off the bench in Game 3, too. — Katie McInerney

Corner 3s are falling early for the Mavericks — 8:51 p.m.

Dereck Lively just hit a corner 3 and caught an alley-oop on back to back possessions. It’s getting loud in here.

As we noted during Game 3, the rims are mic’d up here so fans can hear every swish of a made basket and every clang of a miss. An interesting wrinkle here in Dallas. — Khari Thompson

The Mavericks’ bread and butter this season has been lobs and corner 3s. We even wrote about it after Game 1. If the Celtics can’t take away those corner shots then we’re heading back to Boston for a Game 5. — Katie McInerney

Mavericks 10, Celtics 9 | 6:37, 1st

Mavericks lead early — 8:49 p.m.

Strong start for the stars in this one — Jayson Tatum has 5 of the Celtics’ first 9 points in this one, Luka Doncic has 6 of the Mavericks’ first 10.

The 3-pointers aren’t falling early on, with the teams a combined 1 of 8 from deep to open the game. The Mavericks lead, 10-9, with 6:44 to go in the first quarter. — Amin Touri

Celtics are just 1 of 6 from 3 so far. Mostly good shots, though. The math should eventually be on their side. — Chad Finn

It’s slick out there — 8:47 p.m.

There seems to be a problem with the floor being slippery early. Floor seems a little slick. Spotted a pair of Mavericks workers mopping aggressively trying to get some more traction for the players. — Khari Thompson

A peek inside the coaches’ pregame speeches — 8:45 p.m.

The broadcast showed the final locker room speeches by the coaches, and Jason Kidd not only said “why not us” (a phrase closely associated with the 2004 Red Sox, who did come back from a 3-0 deficit — Curt Schilling said it), but Kidd also said “We’re going to Boston tomorrow. I hope you all packed.” — Matt Pepin

We’re underway in Dallas — 8:40 p.m.

And we’re off. It’s louder in here than it was for Game 3 for certain. Despite the 3-0 deficit, these Mavericks fans seem like they think Dallas can steal one. — Katie McInerney

Back to back buckets for Kyrie and Luka to open the game for the Mavericks. — Khari Thompson

The starting lineups — 8:35 p.m.

No surprises in the starting lineups. For the Celtics, it’ll be Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Al Horford. For Dallas, it’s Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Derrick Jones Jr., P.J. Washington, and Daniel Gafford.

Some big names in the crowd — 8:25 p.m.

Among the famous guests for Game 4 are Joel Embiid, Paul George, and former Patriot and Cowboy Stephon Gilmore.

A strong Boston presence in Dallas — 8:20 p.m.

Noticeably larger Celtics contingent here tonight. Already a pretty loud “Let’s go, Celtics” chant. — Adam Himmelsbach

Watch: Is Jaylen Brown the new king of Boston basketball? — 8:00 p.m.

Jayson Tatum is hitting some crazy pregame shots — 7:45 p.m.

Tatum nailed a hook shot from halfcourt during pregame warmups. He’s averaging 21.7 points per game this series.

Watch: Celtics on the brink of historic NBA Finals sweep — 7:20 p.m.

Kristaps Porzingis is available — 7:05 p.m.

Kristaps Porzingis, previously listed as questionable with an ankle injury, is available for Game 4. His minutes may be limited, according to coach Joe Mazzulla.

“He’s not quite there, but we’re gonna make him available,” Mazzulla said. “But we’re only going to use him in very specific instances if necessary.”

Live from TD Garden ... — 7:00 p.m.

Excitement is building as Celtics fans are beginning to flock to TD Garden for the Game 4 watch party for what could be a clinching victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals. The Celtics lead the series 3-0.

Around 16,000 fans are expected to fill the arena tonight for the sold-out watch party, not including the many more hunkering inside the cluster of bars around the Garden.

Starting at halftime, police will shut down Causeway Street in front of the Garden, from Merrimac to North Washington streets, and all feeder streets that connect Causeway to New Chardon Street. The street closures apply to vehicles and pedestrians.

“There will also be no re-entry to any licensed premises within the secured area from half time on,” a police spokesperson said.

Follow live fan updates inside the Garden, on Causeway, and inside area bars before and after the game.

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Kristaps Porzingis goes through warmups — 6:45 p.m.

By Emma Healy

Kristaps Porzingis, still listed as questionable with an ankle injury, was on the court putting shots up ahead of Game 4. He seemed to be moving more freely than he had in practice Thursday.

The Celtics announced earlier this week that they are evaluating Porzingis’s status on a day-to-day basis as he deals with a left posterior tibialis dislocation, which they described as a “rare” injury.

Jrue Holiday guided by faith on and off court — 6:30 p.m.

By Gary Washburn

Tattooed on Jrue Holiday’s left forearm is Philippians 4:6-7, a Bible passage that says: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

It’s a piece of scripture Holiday can recite on demand, because it’s a belief that has guided his life as more than just a professional basketball player, one of the NBA’s top defenders, and one of the league’s best teammates. He is also a man who seems to have no enemies or adversaries, only family, friends, and admirers.

It’s about his growing family — his brothers Justin and Aaron, who also play in the NBA; his sister Lauren; his parents, who have been staples and role models in his life; his wife Lauren, who the Holidays all say is the best athlete in the family. It’s about his Celtics teammates and before them his teammates with the Bucks, Pelicans, and 76ers.

Jrue Holiday, the Celtics’ indispensable guard, has lived life motivated by his faith, which tells him to treat those around him better than himself, to care for those who need care, and to impact those close and not-so-close to him with generosity and concern.

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By Maddie Khaw

A few hours before 8:30 Wednesday night, while the Celtics were warming up for Game 3 of the NBA Finals in Dallas, Hassan Delaney was putting up shots at a basketball court in the Fenway neighborhood.

One court over from an intense pickup game, Delaney, 13, found a quiet hoop for himself, where he dribbled a ball through his plaid pajama pant-clad legs before tossing up a shot.

“I know they’re gonna go 3-0,” Delaney said before Boston’s win, which gave it a commanding lead in the series against the Mavericks. “I definitely trust in the Celtics.”

Delaney, who recently finished seventh grade at Roxbury Prep Mission Hill, wasn’t yet born the last time the Celtics won the title, in 2008. But he’s heard older fans tout the greatness of the franchise, and he believes this will be the year he gets to see them win it all.

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Tillman keeps his late father close — 6:00 p.m.

By Adam Himmelsbach

Before most games Celtics forward Xavier Tillman sits quietly at his locker, opens a small notebook, and does a Sudoku puzzle to calm his mind before battling against other basketball players. When he finishes, he writes his name and the date at the top of the page and tucks away the book until next time.

But over the past month, the empty spaces surrounding the puzzles have given Tillman a space to reflect, heal, and grieve. That is where he has written long messages to his father, Roosevelt, 58, who died unexpectedly May 19 at his home in Grand Rapids, Mich.

“I just talk to him about whatever I’m feeling going throughout the day,” Tillman said Thursday afternoon, sitting in a quiet corner of the American Airlines Center. “I tell him how I’m feeling, how much I miss him, and other things like that. It’s just as if I’m having a conversation with him.”

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Mazzulla emphasizes one game at a time — 5:45 p.m.

By Khari Thompson

An NBA-record 18th championship is on the line for the Celtics Friday night, along with the team’s perfect 3-0 record in closeout games this postseason.

They won those closeout games by an average of 17.3 points, beating the Heat by 34 in Game 4 of the opening round, topping the Cavaliers by 15 in Game 5 of the conference semifinals, and finishing off a sweep of Indiana with a 3-point victory in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.

The Celtics also came into the game perfect on the road this postseason (7-0), and they were one road win away from the title.

This was no time to let up the intensity, coach Joe Mazzulla said.

“It’s important because it’s the next game on the schedule,” Mazzulla said. “I mean, you can’t get to where you want to get to unless you win the next game.”

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Porzingis practices, but remains questionable — 5:30 p.m.

By Khari Thompson

Kristaps Porzingis took the floor at practice on Thursday wearing a T-shirt, while his teammates were in practice jerseys.

He took a number of set shots, some with both feet on the ground and others with one leg in the air. He did some light repetitions of face-up moves. But it’s still unclear whether he will play in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday night.

The Celtics announced earlier this week that they are evaluating Porzingis’s status on a day-to-day basis as he deals with a left posterior tibialis dislocation. He didn’t look right ahead of Game 3 on Wednesday, so he sat out.

He has been listed as questionable for Game 4.

“Kristaps has gotten better from yesterday to today,” coach Joe Mazzulla said. “He’s fighting like hell to play. But it’s going to be up to us to protect him and to make sure that it’s in the best interest for him as a player and as a person.”

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Amin Touri can be reached at amin.touri@globe.com. Katie McInerney can be reached at katie.mcinerney@globe.com. Follow her @k8tmac. Khari Thompson can be reached at khari.thompson@globe.com. Chad Finn can be reached at chad.finn@globe.com. Follow him @GlobeChadFinn. Emma can be reached at emma.healy@globe.com or on X @_EmmaHealy_. Conor Ryan can be reached at conor.ryan@globe.com. Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach.