By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
A confident display fueled the Boston Celtics on NBA Saturdays. Keeping Latvian Kristaps Porzingis (right soleus strain) on the injury list, the 2023-24 Regular Season winners secured a win, 106-93, over the Cleveland Cavaliers and went to 2-1 in a best-of-seven series.
Europeans were limited to Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk making a brief appearance in Game 3 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel Eastern Conference Semifinals. Portuguese Neemias Queta did not play and Porzingis was sidelined. Jayson Tatum tallied a 33-point, 13-rebound double-double and Jaylen Brown followed with 28 points. On the losing end, Donovan Mitchell shared a game-high 33 points.
Listed as questionable due to a right knee sprain and left ankle soreness, Slovenian Luka Doncic starred in the opener of the NBA Saturdays. The Dallas Mavericks opened a 2-1 lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder with a 105-101 victory at American Airlines Center. He logged 22 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, and two steals.
German teammate Maxi Kleber (right shoulder AC joint separation) has been projected to sit out three weeks. For the visitors, French Olivier Sarr (left Achilles tendon rupture) was on the injury list and French Ousmane Dieng stayed on the bench.
At the end of Game 3 of the Conference Semifinals, the C’s and Mavs alongside the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves enjoy a 2-1 lead against the Cavaliers, Thunder, Indiana Pacers, and Denver Nuggets, respectively. Up next is Game 4 spread across NBA Sundays and Monday evening.