Watch: The Mavericks are dominating the paint early in Game 3

Dallas jumped out to a 22-9 lead to start Game 3, with 19 of those first points coming in the paint. With the long-armed 7-foot-2 Kristaps Porzingis out with a leg injury, the Mavericks took advantage by going inside early and often.

Porzingis had five blocks in the series’ first two games, while Dallas didn’t complete a lob until the second half of Game 3. 

Rookie Dereck Lively II had only four points in the first two games, but finished a three-point play early Wednesday night.

But mainly it was Luka Doncic and Irving scoring inside with efficiency that hadn’t been there earlier in the series.

Boston still has Al Horford and trade deadline acquisition Xavier Tillman to man the middle, but Dallas has a better chance inside than they’ve had all Finals long.