For the eighteenth time in franchise history, the Boston Celtics are NBA champions.
The Celtics closed the first quarter of Game 5 of Monday’s NBA Finals on a 9-0 run and never looked back en route to a dominant 106-88 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. The victory secured a 4-1 victory in the NBA Finals and the franchise’s first title since 2008.
The Celtics set the tone from the first goal when they took the floor for the first time in these Finals wearing their classic green uniforms. They proceeded to put on a performance worthy of those colors. It was also worthy of a team that posted an NBA-best 64 wins in the regular season and produced advanced metrics that are among the best in league history.
They did it on Monday with defense. They did it with 3. They did it with stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown leading the way. It was an optimal conclusion to a pivotal Celtics season.
Boston fired the first shot on Monday, opening a 9-2 lead with its first three baskets scored by Jrue Holiday. Dallas responded and closed the gap to 19-18 in the final two minutes of the quarter. But the 9-0 run to close the quarter pushed Boston’s lead to 28-18.
The second quarter saw more of the same and ended with Payton Pritchard’s jumper from beyond half court to extend Boston’s lead to 21 points.
Dallas never recovered.
The Celtics did not disappoint after halftime. Boston extended its lead to as many as 26 points in the third quarter and never let Dallas sniff attacking distance again. The last quarter was a coronation.
Tatum overwhelmed by emotion, Brown wins MVP
After watching Brown, Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis lead the Finals, Tatum took the reins Monday night as a scorer and playmaker. He led the game with 31 points and 11 assists along with eight rebounds and two steals. He only fumbled the ball twice.
When he finished, he buried his face in his hands as confetti fell from the rafters, overcome with emotion. He then celebrated with his son, Jayson Jr.
Brown added 21 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals. For the series, he averaged 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and five assists, an effort that earned him Finals MVP honors. He can add the trophy to his collection along with his Eastern Conference Finals MVP hardware and forever silence critics of his supermax contract and his left hand.
Derrick White once again had a great performance on both ends of the court with 14 points, eight rebounds, two steals and a block. He led the Celtics from long range with a 4-of-8 effort.
Holiday, now the missing piece that completed the championship run for two different franchises, added 15 points, 11 rebounds and a team-high four assists.
As a team, the Celtics dominated on the glass with a 51-35 rebounding advantage. They forced 13 Mavericks turnovers and turned the ball over just seven times. Concluding a recurring theme throughout the series, Boston secured a significant lead at the free throw line with a 17-of-20 effort (85%). Dallas struggled again, shooting 7 of 13 (53.8%).
The Celtics slowed from 3 after halftime in an overall effort of 13 of 39 (33.3%). But they built their 21-point halftime lead while shooting 10 of 21 (47.6%) from beyond the arc.
Mavericks stars have problems again
A Mavericks team that avoided a sweep with a blowout in Game 4 seemed to leave everything on the court in Dallas. The Mavericks were outplayed and outplayed from Monday night’s opener and posed little challenge to an overwhelming Celtics unit.
Luka Dončić led Dallas with 28 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals. He struggled from the 3 (2 of 9) and continued to offer little resistance on defense. He turned the ball over seven times.
Former Celtic Kyrie Irving, who seemed overwhelmed in Games 1 and 2 in Boston, struggled again Monday night with a 5-for-16 effort from the floor as the home crowd booed him repeatedly. He finished with 15 points and nine assists.
What this title means to the Celtics
For the Celtics, the championship alters legacies on multiple levels.
In the grand scheme, the Celtics regained sole possession atop the list of all-time NBA champions, no longer tied with their bitter rival Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers had previously won eight titles against Boston since 1986, including three unanswered since 2008 to tie the Celtics with 17 titles. Boston is once again alone with its 18th championship.
Tatum and Brown are now certified. The All-Star teammates were repeatedly questioned and criticized for falling short on the biggest stages in their previous six seasons as shared faces of the franchise. They were stumped in two Eastern Conference finals against the Miami Heat and watched Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors celebrate a championship at TD Garden in 2022. Those questions no longer linger.
Jayson Tatum starred in Monday’s victory over Dallas that clinched the championship. (Elsa//Keynote USA/Getty Images)
Tatum and Brown now join a hallowed list that includes Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Larry Bird, Robert Parish, Kevin McHale, Dennis Johnson, JoJo White, Dave Cowens, John Havlicek, Bob Cousy and Bill Russell to lead a franchise synonymous of greatness towards the championship. glory.
President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens brought his unique basketball mind from the Celtics’ bench to the front office in 2021. Never content to fall short, he continually tweaked the roster and ultimately made championship-building moves, including acquiring of Al Horford, Holiday, White and Porziņģis — decisions that coincided with difficult decisions like parting ways with franchise favorite Marcus Smart and All-Star Kemba Walker.
Head coach Joe Mazzulla, promoted in 2022 amid the scandalous departure of Ime Udoka, drew criticism during his first season leading the team that ended without reaching the NBA Finals. He is now a champion in his second season as an NBA head coach.
For these Celtics, this championship is not seen as an end, but as a beginning. Tatum (26 years old) and Brown (27) are just reaching their prime and have their sights set on further cementing their names in the glory of the Celtics franchise. But what a start this championship season was.
LIVE COVERAGE IS SUPERIOR62 updates
- Monday, June 17, 2024 at 8:03 pm MST
The Celtics are the NBA champions
Led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Boston defeats Dallas, 106-88, in Game 5 in Boston to win the franchise’s 18th NBA championship. Tatum scored 31 points, 11 assists and 8 rebounds, and Brown scored 21 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists.
Monday, June 17, 2024 at 7:41 pm MST
MVP?
The MVP chants have been for both Brown and Tatum at the foul line tonight. A split vote, it seems.
- Monday, June 17, 2024 at 7:40 pm MST
By the way, this entire Celtics rotation is under contract for next season. gl.
– Rob Pérez (@WorldWideWob) June 18, 2024
- Monday, June 17, 2024 at 7:39 pm MST
The Mavs have missed 13 of their last 14 shots. Absolutely no gas, no spark, no options and, barring something cosmic, in about nine minutes, no time.
– Dan Devine (@YourManDevine) June 18, 2024
- Monday, June 17, 2024 at 7:36 pm MST
- Monday, June 17, 2024 at 7:35 pm MST
Monday, June 17, 2024 at 7:34 pm MST
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a player who can’t perform well in a particular building like Kyrie.
- Monday, June 17, 2024 at 7:34 pm MST
Monday, June 17, 2024 at 7:31 pm MST
Dallas has had its opportunities. 7 of 29 of 3. Many of them open. Doncic and Irving are 1 for 12 from 3.
- Monday, June 17, 2024 at 7:29 pm MST
Celtics lead 86-67 after 3 quarters
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have combined for 37 points for Boston, Kyrie Irving has 9 points on 3-of-12 shooting for Dallas as the Celtics lead 86-67.
Monday June 17, 2024 at 7:25 pm MST
The Celtics only have 9 second chance points, thanks to 12 offensive rebounds. But the way this home crowd reacts to every board has slowly taken some of the life out of Dallas.
- Monday, June 17, 2024 at 7:23 pm MST
Luka Doncic is already 1 for his 21 three-point attempts in the NBA Finals
- Monday, June 17, 2024 at 7:21 pm MST
- Monday, June 17, 2024 at 7:16 pm MST
Only three brutal games in Boston for Kyrie. He is getting a clean look. I just can’t do them. 3-12 now from the ground. Irving and Doncic 1-11 from three-point range. 82-64, Boston.
-Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) June 18, 2024
Monday, June 17, 2024 at 7:12 pm MST
Josh Green wants to extend this series! The guy is 4-for-4 from deep.
Monday, June 17, 2024 at 7:11 pm MST
Luke settling down
Luka just settles for jump shots. Whether it’s injury, fatigue or whatever, he hasn’t even tried to get to the rim. He had Al Horford all alone at the top of the key and didn’t even consider trying anything other than the pass behind him, and is now 0-for-5 from three.
Monday, June 17, 2024 at 7:03 pm MST
Al Horford is still going strong
Al Horford is 17 years older than Dereck Lively II and simply used every ounce of his old man strength to bully him under the basket and draw a foul. Strong start to the third quarter for Horford.
Monday, June 17, 2024 at 7:02 pm MST
The Celtics hit their three-pointers
That Al Horford 3 takes the Celtics to 12 of 23 from distance. Seven members of Boston’s eight-man rotation have connected from deep. (Porzingis is the exception). They are outscoring Dallas by 18 points from the arc.
- Monday, June 17, 2024 at 6:58 pm MST
Monday, June 17, 2024 at 6:45 pm MST
Tatum doing it
Jayson Tatum’s first half: 16 points, four rebounds, nine assists, zero turnovers. But what has been most impressive is the fact that he seems to exorcise his demons of not getting to the rim and finishing enough. All of his plays, aside from that step-back three at the end of the second quarter, came in the paint and at the rim.
Keynote USA
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