DALLAS — The Celtics had no answers for the Mavericks throughout Game 4, getting hit in the mouth and never recovering. After the C’s lost Friday, it snapped a 10-game win streak as it was also Boston’s first road loss and first closeout game loss of these playoffs.
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But if there was a small silver lining, it’s that the C’s have a chance to closeout the Mavs on their home court for Game 5. Fans piled into a C’s-less TD Garden for Games 3 and 4, watching the game on the scoreboard. But now, the Celtics will be back at the Garden at 8:30 p.m. Monday with the chance to celebrate their 18th championship with their fans.
“I think it’s going to be as loud as it’s ever been in my seven years of being a Celtic,” Jayson Tatum said. “Excited to go back home. Celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday and compete for a championship on Monday. So it should be a lot of fun.”
Back in 2008, the last time the C’s won it all, they also got to celebrate on their home court. So for the fans who will be in attendance for Monday’s game, it should be an experience. The Celtics still hold a 3-1 series lead over the Mavericks, so while Game 4 was nerve-wrecking, they’re still in prime position to close out the Mavs.
The Celtics have been stellar at home these playoffs, going 8-2 thus far. They had a couple stumbles early on, but they haven’t lost a home game in more than a month, which is a five-game home win streak. They also looked good against the Mavs earlier this series, though Dallas is going to play with a level of desperation now. Despite that, the C’s will look to take care of business in Game 5.
“Give them credit,” Tatum said. “They played well tonight and we didn’t. We had the right mindset and right intentions. We wanted to come out and play super well and win, but it just didn’t go that way tonight. But we are fortunate. We get another opportunity on Monday.”
