Celtics Media Trolls Mavericks’ Luka Dončić With Petty Graphic After Game 3

June 13, 2024 Jimm Sallivan

Following the Boston Celtics’ 106-99 Game 3 win over the Dallas Mavericks to take a commanding 3-0 series lead in the NBA Finals, the Celtics media thought they would have a little fun with Mavericks star Luka Doncic.

NBA fans and analysts alike were well-aware of Doncic’s foul-baiting antics and incessant complaints throughout the game, and one Celtics media member decided enough was enough.

Doncic finished with 27 points on 11-of-27 shooting, but he fouled out with roughly four minutes left in the fourth quarter. NBC Sports Boston took the latter of those statistics and turned it into a savage graphic on X (formerly known as Twitter) paired with a screenshot of Doncic at the postgame presser.

The caption read, “petty o’clock”

petty o’clock pic.twitter.com/Ns3gkr6MVE

— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) June 13, 2024

Doncic appeared to tut at the officiating after the game, as his fifth and sixth fouls were arguably very close calls. One game away from suffering a Finals sweep, the Mavericks will host the Celtics for Game 4 on Friday night.

7 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

List of Every NBA Finals Series to Go Seven Games

The 2024 NBA Finals tip off on Thursday night, as the Boston Celtics look to add an 11th Larry O'Brien Trophy to their trophy case, while the Dallas Mavericks look to secure the franchise's second-ever NBA title.

For viewing purposes, getting the opportunity to see a seven-game series between the Celtics and Mavericks would be wildly entertaining. It's somewhat uncommon for an NBA Finals series to go the full seven games, however. Throughout history, the NBA Finals has gone the full distance of seven games only 19 times.

Most recently, the 2016 NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors was decided in seven games, but the past seven championships have been decided quicker than that.

Here's a look at every NBA Finals series that has gone seven games:

YEAR	MATCHUP
1951	Rochester Royals def. New York Knicks
1952	Minneapolis Lakers def. New York Knicks
1954	Minneapolis Lakers def. Syracuse Nationals
1955	Syracuse Nationals def. Fort Wayne Pistons
1957	Boston Celtics def. St. Louis Hawks
1960	Boston Celtics def. St. Louis Hawks
1962	Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers
1966	Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers
1969	Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers
1970	New York Knicks def. Los Angeles Lakers
1974	Boston Celtics def. Milwaukee Bucks
1978	Washington Bullets def. Seattle Supersonics
1984	Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers
1988	Los Angeles Lakers def. Detroit Pistons
1994	Houston Rockets def. New York Knicks
2005	San Antonio Spurs def. Detroit Pistons
2010	Los Angeles Lakers def. Boston Celtics
2013	Miami Heat def. San Antonio Spurs
2016	Cleveland Cavaliers def. Golden State Warriors

Game 7's have been few and far between in recent history. Since 1995, only four NBA Finals series have reached the coveted seventh game.

Of course, those that have gone the distance have resulted in some iconic moments, including the Cavaliers becoming the first team in league history to overcome a 3–1 deficit in the Finals in '16 against the Warriors.

Of the 19 Game 7's in NBA Finals history, only two have gone to overtime, and none since 1962 when the Celtics took down the Lakers.

3 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Celtics’ Payton Pritchard Reveals Why He Wears Sabrina Ionescu’s Signature Shoes

Payton Pritchard and the Boston Celtics are currently awaiting the end of the Orlando Magic - Cleveland Cavaliers series to learn their opponent for the upcoming Eastern Conference semifinal series.

While everyone waits for the unofficial NBA TV series to wrap up on national television sometime this weekend, the local press gets to ask whatever questions they don't have time for when there are actual games to talk about, which is probably why someone finally asked Pritchard about his sneakers.

Prtichard wears Sabrina Ionescu's signature Nike shoes. Pritchard and Ionescu both went to Oregon as freshmen in 2016 and played all four years in Eugene before turning pro.

Ionescu was selected with the first pick of the 2020 WNBA draft, while Pritchard was taken 26th by the Celtics. While Pritchard doesn't have his own signature shoe, at least he found a comfortable one with his friend's name on it.

Payton Pritchard on why he wears Sabrina Ionescu’s shoes:
“Me and Sabrina are in the same class, and we went to Oregon together as freshmen. Her shoes are probably the most comfortable out right now. It’s light. I like it.” pic.twitter.com/rbROb4F1MU
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzellNBA) May 3, 2024

Pritchard is not the only NBA player rocking the Sabrina's. During All-Star Weekend, Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II revealed that he had an exciting exchange with Ionescu about her shoes. She thanked him for wearing them while he thanked her for making them so comfortable.

"Thank you for wearing my shoes."
"Thank you for making them that comfortable."
This Dereck Lively II and Sabrina Ionescu interaction 🤣 pic.twitter.com/XdhQecEtPP
— NBA (@NBA) February 17, 2024

That's some solid word-of-mouth. Not only does Ionescu have the skill and profile to be featured during NBA All-Star Saturday, but she also has got the footwear to back it up.

And if she has it her way, more WNBA players will get signature shoes. If they're half as comfortable as hers apparently are, that's a good thing for all basketball players.