The Boston Celtics took care of business at TD Garden on Monday night and clinched an NBA championship in Game 5 of the Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, 106-88.
It is the 18th championship for the Celtics and the first since 2008. Boston now has the most titles in league history, one more than 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 NBA Finals. NBA basketball, Monday, June 17, 2024. Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Tatum played 45 minutes and scored 31 points. He added 11 assists and eight rebounds. He became the first Celtics player to have at least 20 points, 10 assists and five rebounds in an NBA Finals game since Larry Bird in 1986.
“We did it!” Tatum shouted as he spoke to ESPN's Lisa Salters.
Brown added 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
He was named MVP of the NBA Finals.
Al Horford, an NBA veteran who entered the league in 2007, finally won his first NBA ring. He had nine points and nine rebounds.
Kristaps Porzingis, who was injured throughout the finals, played 16 minutes in Game 5. He finished with five points.
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June 17, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, United States; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) reacts after a play against the Dallas Mavericks during the second quarter in game five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden. (Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports)
It is 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 keep the Celtics aligned and focused on the task at hand: an NBA championship.
Boston was able to keep the defense ahead throughout the series. They only allowed Dallas to surpass 100 points once in the series and held them at bay for most of Game 4. The team was 11 of 37 from 3-point range.
Kyrie Irving scored 15 points but was 5 of 16 from the field. Luka Doncic led Dallas with 28 points. Doncic 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 hoping to finally hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy at the end of the season. Boston had 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 victory against the Heat in the first round, eradicating 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 strong against the Mavericks, holding the team 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 midway through Game 5 of the NBA basketball finals, Monday, June 17, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Boston lost Game 4 on the road, 122-84, but recovered to capture the title at home.
Since the days of the Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish dynasty of the 1980s, the Celtics have only won one title since 1986.
The last one came in 2008 with the Big Three of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett.
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Now Boston is celebrating again and firmly back on top of the NBA.
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