The Dallas Mavericks had the last opportunity to remain in the NBA Finals, and they made the most of it by snatching a 122-84 win in Game 4 over the Boston Celtics. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving mostly looked after the offense. However, they needed a third player who would come through to make an impact. The player was none other than Mavs rookie Dereck Lively II. His outstanding performance earned him praise from the franchise’s superstar.
During the post-game press conference, Doncic’s face lit up when asked to share his thoughts about Lively. Praising his teammate for the double-double contribution, the Slovenian said, “I think people forget he’s a rookie doing this stuff. He’s been amazing the whole season, just watching him grow has been unbelievable.”
Friday night was the first time since mid-November last year that Lively attempted a shot from behind the 3-point arc. But when Doncic passed him the ball, the 7-foot-1 center could hold himself back and shot a marvelous bucket from the deep. He finished the night with 11 points and 12 rebounds by shooting 4-of-5 from the floor.
However, his on-court performance helped the Mavs maintain their supremacy in the game, and his off-court actions also benefitted the team.
Dereck Lively’s Pep Talk to Luka Doncic Revealed
During the game, Luka Doncic appeared more focused and wasn’t seen arguing with the game officials about any decision. The secret behind this was Dereck Lively’s pep talk to the five-time All-Star.
In the post-game press conference, the 20-year-old disclosed, “He knows exactly what we’re gonna do and how we have his back. Only thing I told him is just, ‘Look, going out there, first two times you get fouled just don’t say nothing to the refs, that’s all I got. Just please don’t do that.'”
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The advice was necessary for Doncic, who was criticized heavily for his bickering in the previous game and throughout the season. Lively deserves some credit for motivating the guard, who had a record-breaking night, to score 29 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
Though the Mavericks played splendidly, the Celtics still lead the series by 3-1. Kyrie Irving and the Dallas team will face the rowdy Boston fans again on Monday for their fifth game of the NBA Finals series at the TD Garden.
