Dallas Mavericks' Veteran Breaks Team Record in Game 4 of NBA Finals

Despite struggling for most of the playoffs and losing a spot in the rotation, the Mavs have a new NBA Finals record-holder

Austin Veazey | Jun 15, 2024

Jun 14, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) celebrates with teammates during the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics during game four of the 2024 NBA Finals at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports / Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

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Game 4 was a demolition by the Dallas Mavericks, as they picked up their first win in the 2024 NBA Finals 122-84 against the Boston Celtics. Both teams pulled their starters at the end of the third quarter, allowing for players who were out of the rotation to come in and gain some confidence or experience.

One such player was Tim Hardaway Jr., who has struggled with his shot for most of the playoffs. For some odd reason, Jason Kidd played him 19 minutes in Game 3 despite his struggles, and it was one of the biggest reasons the Mavs lost that game. He entered Game 4 having not hit a shot since May 18th and receiving DNPs in half of the games. Game 4 looked like another DNP, as he wasn't with the rotation of the Mavs' top 8 or 9 players. With the game out of hand, Kidd inserted him in the 4th quarter to hopefully give the veteran some confidence in his shot again.

All Hardaway did was light up the nets, scoring 15 points on 5/7 shooting from 3-point range, re-igniting the crowd in American Airlines Center. In doing so, he became the Mavericks' franchise leader for 3-pointers made in an NBA Finals game with 5, passing the group of Kyrie Irving, Luka Doncic (twice), Jason Terry (twice), Jerry Stackhouse, and J.J. Barea who have all hit four 3-pointers in an NBA Finals game. Hardaway accomplished his feat in just 12 minutes, with his 15 points being as much as any Celtic scored.

Tim Hardaway Jr.’s FIVE THREES in the 4th quarter of Game 4 broke the Dallas Mavericks’ record for most threes made in a single NBA Finals game! 🎯

THJ did it in ONE QUARTER! He hadn’t scored a single point in the 2024 NBA playoffs before tonight’s barrage! pic.twitter.com/YNeeNyhLIc
— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) June 15, 2024

Hardaway also joins Ray Allen and Stephen Curry as the only players to hit 5 or more 3-pointers in a single quarter of an NBA Finals game, pretty good company to be alongside for a sharpshooter.

If this is what it takes for Hardaway to regain some confidence, so be it. Dallas desperately needs some rotation pieces to hit their 3-point attempts off the open looks from Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic. The Mavs were able to do that in Game 4, with the players outside of the two superstars shooting 14/23 (60.8%) from deep. Even if you limit it to the main rotation players of Dante Exum, Dereck Lively II (who hit his first career three in Game 4), P.J. Washington, Maxi Kleber, and Derrick Jones Jr., they combined to shoot 7/13 from three, a much needed showing from Dallas' role players.

There's still a long way to go for the Mavs if they want to crawl back in this series, but at least there's one more game on Monday night in Boston.

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Published Jun 15, 2024

AUSTIN VEAZEY

Austin Veazey joined NoleGameday as the Lead Basketball Writer in 2019, while contributing as a football writer, and started as editor for MavericksGameday in 2024. Veazey was a Florida State Men’s Basketball Manager from 2016-2019. Follow Austin on Twitter at @EasyVeazeyNG