Boston Celtics Mavericks

Mavs rout Celtics to force Game 5

Dallas takes Game 4, 135-109, behind Doncic's 25

Boston's series lead cut to 3-1; Game 5 set for Thursday in Dallas

Luka Doncic wasted no time in setting the tone for Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday night against the Boston Celtics.

Doncic scored the first five points of the game, tying the score at 5-all just over a minute into the contest. The Dallas Mavericks never trailed again, ultimately handing the Celtics a 135-109 loss and cutting Boston's series lead to 3-1.

Doncic finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists to lead the Mavericks, who shot 52.8 percent from the field, including 16-of-42 from three-point range. Spencer Dinwiddie added 21 points, and Kristaps Porzingis had 20 points and eight rebounds.

Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 20 points, while Jaylen Brown added 19 points. Robert Williams III had 12 points and 10 rebounds.

The Mavericks had a 15-point lead at the end of the first quarter and led by as many as 25 points in the second half. The Celtics never seriously threatened in the second half, as the Mavericks cruised to the easy victory.

Game 5 of the series is set for Thursday night in Dallas. The Celtics will be looking to close out the series and win their 18th NBA championship, while the Mavericks will be looking to force a Game 6 back in Boston.

5 takeaways from the Mavericks' Game 4 win:

1. Luka Doncic is unstoppable. The Mavericks superstar had another dominant performance in Game 4, leading the team in points, rebounds and assists. He is simply too talented for the Celtics to handle.
2. The Mavericks' role players are stepping up. Spencer Dinwiddie and Kristaps Porzingis both had big games in Game 4, providing valuable support for Doncic. The Mavericks need their role players to continue to produce if they want to win the series.
3. The Celtics are struggling to score. The Celtics have averaged just 101 points per game in the series, and they have shot just 43.2 percent from the field. They need to find a way to generate more offense if they want to win the series.
4. The Mavericks are playing with confidence. The Mavericks have won two straight games in the series, and they are starting to believe that they can win the championship. They are playing with a lot of confidence, and they are not afraid of the Celtics.
5. The Celtics are in trouble. The Celtics are now one loss away from elimination. They need to find a way to win Game 5 in Dallas, or their season will be over.