Celtics on cusp of 18th title with 3-0 stranglehold over Mavs

The Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks 106-99, advancing to the 2024 NBA Finals. This achievement joins an exclusive club of only nine other teams who have swept a best-of-seven championship series 4-0. The Celtics were the first to accomplish this feat in 1959 against the Minneapolis Lakers, a team they now share the record for most NBA titles with (17). The 1959 victory marked the second of eight consecutive championships for the Celtics.

The Mavericks now face a daunting challenge, as teams trailing 3-0 in a best-of-seven series have never come back to win. The Celtics have lost just two games in the playoffs and have had ample rest after sweeping the Indiana Pacers. Despite the absence of Kristaps Porzingis, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have led the team with a combined 61 points in the Finals opener.

While the Celtics are one win away from a sweep and their 18th championship, history shows that achieving a 4-0 sweep is no easy task. Teams that have accomplished this feat have typically relied on extraordinary talent. The 1959 Celtics squad featured five future Hall of Famers, while the 2018 Golden State Warriors had stars like Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Klay Thompson. The 2007 San Antonio Spurs and the 2002 Los Angeles Lakers, led by Tim Duncan and Kobe Bryant, respectively, also achieved sweeps in the NBA Finals.

Here's a complete list of teams that have swept in NBA Finals history:

* 2018 - Warriors over Cavaliers
* 2007 - Spurs over Cavaliers
* 2002 - Lakers over Nets
* 1995 - Rockets over Magic
* 1989 - Pistons over Lakers
* 1983 - 76ers over Lakers
* 1975 - Warriors over Bullets
* 1971 - Bucks over Bullets
* 1959 - Celtics over Lakers