5 Studs from Mavericks' blowout Game 4 win over Celtics

4. Stud - Dante Exum

In Game 3 of the 2024 NBA Finals, Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd tried everything in the first half of that game. He played 11 players in the first half of that game, and he was looking for someone to provide a spark off the bench to provide Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving with some complementary scoring.

No one stepped up to the plate, but in Game 4, one player knocked it out of the park.

Dante Exum was phenomenal for the Mavs in the first half, as he was getting to the rim and knocking down open shots, and he proved that Jason Kidd can trust him when they need a spark. He is one of the only guards off the bench with two-way ability, and the impact that Exum provided in this game showed how valuable he can be when he is at his best.

In Game 4, Exum finished with 10 points off the bench while shooting 4-7 from the field and 2-4 from downtown. Exum would have had 13 points, but one of the threes he drained got called back later on as he stepped out of bounds.

Exum provided a big impact in the minutes that he was in, and he is someone who could continue to provide impactful minutes for Dallas if Kidd rolls with him. He never shies away from the moment, and his confidence issues from earlier in the playoffs seem to be gone.

If Exum can continue to play sound defense while knocking down open shots, he'll be set.