THE Boston Celtics took care of business at TD Garden Monday night and clinched an NBA championship in Game 5 with a 106-88 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
The victory marks the Celtics’ 18th championship and first since 2008. Boston now holds the most titles in league history – one more than the The Los Angeles Lakers.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown led the team to the critical victory.
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Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives with the ball as Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, left, and forward PJ Washington (25) defend during the first half of Game 5 of the Finals the NBA on Monday. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Tatum played 45 minutes and scored 31 points, adding 11 assists and eight rebounds. He became the first Celtics player to have at least 20 points, 10 assists and five rebounds in a game. NBA Finals game since Larry Bird did it in 1986.
“We did it!” Tatum shouted while speaking to ESPN’s Lisa Salters.
Brown added 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists. He was named NBA Finals MVP.
Al Horford, a longtime NBA veteran who entered the league in 2007, finally won his first NBA ring. He had nine points and nine rebounds.
Kristaps Porzingis, injured throughout the Finals, played 16 minutes in Game 5. He finished with five points.
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Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) reacts after a game against the Dallas Mavericks during the second quarter in Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden. (Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports)
The victory marked Joe Mazzulla’s first championship as head coach. He took the reins last season after the Ime Udoka scandal engulfed the franchise. Mazzulla’s leadership helped the Celtics stay aligned and focused on the task at hand: an NBA championship.
Boston managed to keep the defense at the forefront throughout the series. They only let Dallas surpass 100 points once in the series and held the Mavs at bay for most of Game 4. The team was 11 of 37 from 3-point range.
Kyrie Irving had 15 points but was 5 of 16 from the field. Luka Doncic led Dallas with 28 points and added 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals.
The Celtics were the best team in the NBA, finishing with a 64-18 record and entering the playoffs with hopes of finally hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy at the end of the season. Boston lost to the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 Finals and was eliminated by the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals last year.
Boston’s revenge tour began with the series win over the Heat in the first round, excising some of last season’s demons. The Celtics then defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games and swept the Indiana Pacers in the conference finals.
The Celtics started out strong against the Mavericks, holding the team to under 100 points in each of their first three games.
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, center, drives to the basket as Dallas Mavericks forward PJ Washington, right, defends and Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, left, watches during the first half of Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Boston lost Game 4 on the road, 122-84, but recovered to win the title at home.
The Celtics have won just one title since 1986, under the Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish dynasty.
The last one took place in 2008 with the Big Three of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett.
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Now Boston can celebrate again and is firmly back at the top of the NBA.
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