Three turning points for Game 4 of the NBA Finals

2. Luka Doncic takes over in the second quarter

After 12 minutes, the Mavericks had a 13-point lead. But instead of being content, they dominated in a decisive second quarter, with Doncic playing conductor.

Doncic's resurgence on the defensive end was evident, but he also pushed the pace on offense, especially in the second, helping Dallas pull away early. Whether forcing the actions on the break following a defensive board or methodically dissecting the Celtics to nail a jump shot, Doncic had a hand in nearly everything the Mavericks did on offense.

Dallas outscored Boston 27-14 in the second quarter, with Doncic scoring or assisting on eight of the Mavericks nine field goals. He'd finish with 25 points at the break, the most in a half by a Mavericks player in an NBA Finals game. 

 3. The Celtics pull starters late in the third

After being blown off the floor in the opening half, the Celtics seemingly lost their will to compete after the break. Trailing 61-35 at halftime, Boston saw its deficit increase to 38, prompting the Celtics to wave the white flag early. 

The Celtics, who had yet to take a loss on the road this postseason, came to grips with their reality before the start of the fourth. With 3:18 to go, Dereck Lively threw down an emphatic lob dunk. Mazzulla called a timeout to empty his bench, signaling the end of Game 4 with more than a quarter to go.