‘It looked like a foul’: Jason Kidd’s candid reaction to critical moment at the end of Game 2
Kidd's Mavericks now trail the Celtics 2-0 in the NBA Finals.
Jason Kidd’s reaction to the Mavericks’ Game 2 loss: After openly trying to drive a wedge between the Celtics with his pregame comments about Jaylen Brown, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd was subjected to another tough watch on Sunday as Dallas dropped Game 2 of the NBA Finals, 105-98.
Despite his efforts at some gamesmanship, Kidd is now faced with an 0-2 series deficit against a talented and deep Boston team. And just when Game 2 threatened to become dramatic in the last few minutes of the fourth quarter, Celtics players Derrick White and Jaylen Brown combined for a clutch block of P.J. Washington.
Replays showed that both players may have committed fouls in the process, a fact which Kidd addressed in his postgame remarks.
“My interpretation? It looked like a foul,” Kidd responded when asked about the incident in the first question of the press conference. “But it wasn’t called. So it wasn’t a foul.”
Aside from the block, the Mavericks can point to a few other factors for why they once again emerged from TD Garden with a loss. One point of emphasis was free throws. Boston converted 19-of-20 attempts, while Dallas was just 16-of-24 (66 percent).
“Big,” Kidd replied of the free throw margins. “We have to do the small things, and that’s part of the game. Those are points that we left on the board. We didn’t shoot free throws well tonight, and we have to be better.”
Kyrie Irving, despite starting well, finished with just 16 points on 7-of-18 shooting.
Kidd’s assessment was, as usual, straightforward.
“He had great looks. They just didn’t go down,” Kidd said of Irving. “That’s just the game of basketball. Sometimes you make them. Sometimes you don’t. You continue to keep playing.”
Trivia: Jrue Holiday has started the 2024 NBA Finals playing extremely efficient basketball. Through two games, he’s totaled 38 points 19 rebounds, eight assists, and (crucially) zero turnovers.
Who is the most recent NBA player to score at least 38 points with zero turnovers through the first two games of a finals?
(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: This player, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, defeated the Utah Jazz in the particular NBA Finals matchup in question.
Scores and schedules:
The Celtics defeated the Mavericks 105-98 to take a 2-0 series lead in the NBA Finals on Sunday. Boston didn’t shoot especially well, but still found a way to get a win as the matchup now heads to Dallas for Game 3 on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m.
The Red Sox also got a win on Sunday, defeating the White Sox 6-4. Boston will face the Phillies in a three-game series starting tomorrow night at Fenway Park.
More from Boston.com:
- Celtics pull out hard-fought Game 2 win over Mavericks as Jrue Holiday shines: 10 takeaways
- Who’s the biggest star on the Celtics? Let me submit Jrue Holiday for consideration.
- Jrue Holiday clarifies comments on Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown
- Kyrie Irving tips his cap to Celtics’ home-court advantage after Boston’s Game 2 win
- TD Garden puts Kyrie Irving’s quote about quiet Game 1 crowd on video board
- Watch: Young Celtics fan trolls Luka Doncic after taking photo with Mavericks star
- Why the Celtics’ Game 2 victory over the Mavericks was their most impressive playoff win yet
- Kristaps Porzingis, Joe Mazzulla brush aside concerns of injury following Game 2 win
Great call: With MLB games happening in England over the weekend, fans were treated to some unfamiliar baseball moments. This included an absolutely great call of the end of Sunday’s Mets-Phillies game being played at London Stadium.
The latest from Carlos Alcaraz: The Spaniard won the French Open on Sunday, rallying to defeat Alexander Zverev.
On this day: In 1987, the Red Sox crushed the Orioles 15-4 on the strength of grand slams from Ellis Burks (who hit two home runs) and Marty Barrett. Al Nipper pitched a complete game for Boston.
Alongside that news, coverage was focused on the Celtics-Lakers matchup in the NBA Finals. And in NHL news, Ray Bourque won the Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman.
Daily highlight: Cam Cannarella made a Willie Mays-style catch for Clemson to keep the team’s season alive in the 10th inning. Unfortunately for the Tigers, Florida still managed to prevail in a wild, back-and-forth 13-inning game by an 11-10 final score.
Trivia answer: Michael Jordan
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com