NBA Finals 2024 Game 2 LIVE updates: Aussies Exum, Green see bump in minutes but Celtics have all the answers

Irving just drove to the hoop for a lay-up as the Mavs keep hope alive of a late comeback.

Exum has started the final term and defended pretty well but with Doncic resting on the bench, there is a fair chance he replaces Exum shortly.

The Mavs are playing a little faster but their passing is still patchy.

Meanwhile, Boston keeps finding openings.

BOS 90, DAL 83 with eight mins left.

Exum’s late three will give Aussie fans something to cheer about and, more importantly, something for Jason Kidd to think about for the final term and the rest of this series.

But Boston still leads despite shooting just six of 30 from the three-point line and Pritchard just nailed a three from halfcourt on the buzzer.

One other note for Aussie fans, both Green and Exum finished the half on court together.

The Celtics are right on track for a 2-0 lead, unless the Mavs pick things up.

Exum has been thrown back in and Doncic set him up for a three, which he nailed.

He has only shot 3-14 from three-point range in the playoffs.

Huge moment for Exum, hopefully the start of a comeback for Dallas.

BOS 80, DAL 70 with a minute to go in Q3.

Dallas will have no chance of winning even a game in this series if they don’t start passing the ball and moving around on offence.

The Celtics are daring Doncic and Irving to play isolation basketball, that is to dribble the ball and try to drive at multiple defenders, and the two Mavs’ superstars are playing into their hands.

Irving just tried to fire an isolation three-pointer over Porzingis. It missed and the Celtics ran down the other end and scored.

BOS 75, DAL 66 with two mins to go in Q3.

This has been a wild third quarter with shots missing the mark from both teams but the Celtics have grown their lead slightly and this is frustrating the Mavs.

Brown just got to the bucket to make it a six-point lead.

Dallas has to change something or they will be leaving this arena down 2-0.

BOS 69, DAL 63 with five mins to go in Q3.

The Celtics look to be stirring in this third quarter and on the last play, the Celtics made a steal and Washington fouled them with the open court ahead, a transition take foul was called, that meant Boston got a free throw and then possession.

But the Mavs have kept fighting and Doncic just found Dereck Liveley II on a roll to the basket and he threw down the dunk.

BOS 63, DAL 61 with seven mins to go in Q3.

Several of ESPN’s half-time analysts have called on the Mavs to pick up the pace of their offence and stop allowing Boston’s defence to set up.

“This is why Indiana could score on Boston last series,” Former Golden State general manager Bob Myers said on ESPN.

“They played fast.”

The lack of ball movement is also an issue for the Mavs who have only had eight assists for the half compared to 15 from the Celtics.

As an Australian, I am biased but surely the one Mavs guard who loves pushing the pace and passing the ball is Dante Exum?

I hope the Mavs give him another go in this third quarter. I think he could be very helpful, especially in the minutes that someone like Peyton Pritchard is on the court for the Celtics.

Boston has a slim lead despite shooting just three of 15 from the three-point line and allowing Luka Doncic 23 points for the half.

Jrue Holiday has stepped up when the Celtics needed him with 17 points in this first half while Brown and Tatum have produced just 13 points between them although Tatum also have eight assists.

The Mavs will take confidence from finding ways to get more assists to role players like Derrick Jones jnr, Josh Green and their bigs. If they can’t get shots for those players, they will surely lose.