DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks came out swinging in the first half of Game 4 of the 2024 NBA Finals. At halftime, they held a 61-35 lead over the Celtics.
It's the exact kind of effort the Mavericks needed as they looked to avoid a sweep, and maybe -- just maybe -- become the first team in NBA history to come back from down 3-0 to win an NBA Playoffs series.
The Mavs' impressive offensive first-half output -- and lack thereof in the Celtics' case -- gave the Mavs a 26-point lead. That's good enough to secure them the fourth-largest first half lead in NBA Finals history, according to Basketball Reference.
The Mavs put up 34 points in the first quarter, and then 27 points in the second to secure their massive 26-point lead.
Coincidentally, if the Celtics were to come back and win Game 4, they would have to beat their own modern-day record for the largest comeback in NBA Finals history. They set that figure with their 24-point come-from-behind win against the Lakers in the 2008 NBA Finals.
Ahead of the Mavs in the list for largest halftime leads in NBA Finals history? The 1970 New York Knicks, the 2020 Los Angeles Lakers and the 1985 Boston Celtics. The Mavericks now replace the 1960 Boston Celtics for fourth position.
That's not the only interesting factoid to come out of this first half, either.
As Basketball Reference also notes, the corner three that Derrick Lively II made in the first quarter -- his first-ever career make from behind the arc -- earned the 20-year-old center the distinction of being the youngest player in NBA Finals history to hit a three-pointer.
Meanwhile, as the Mavericks' own PR team notes, the 36 combined first half points from Mavericks stars Luka Doncic (25) and Kyrie Irving (11) was enough on its own to outscore the entire Celtics team's first-half offensive output.
Doncic's 25 points, the Mavs also notes, is also the most in a half in the NBA Finals in team history, topping a 24-point half from Dirk Nowitzki in the 2011 Finals against the Heat.
That year, of course, the Mavs won their first -- and to this point only -- NBA Championship.
Interesting, huh?