The Boston Celtics won the NBA championship for the 18th time in franchise history.

The Celtics went on a 9-0 run to end the first quarter of Monday’s NBA Finals Game 5 against the Dallas Mavericks and never looked back, winning easily 106-88. The victory gave the team its first title since 2008, as they won the NBA Finals 4-1.

The Celtics set the tone right away as they hit the court for the first time in these Finals, wearing their classic green uniforms. They then proceeded to deliver a performance worthy of their hues. It was also fitting for a club that finished with an NBA-record 64 wins in the regular season and produced advanced analytics that are among the finest in league history.

They accomplished it on Monday through defense. They did it in threes. They accomplished it, with studs Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown leading the way. It was a fitting end to a momentous Celtics season.

On Monday, Boston took the first shot and went on a 9-2 run, with Jrue Holiday scoring the first three points. Dallas fought back and cut the deficit to 19-18 in the final two minutes of the quarter. But a 9-0 run to end the fourth increased Boston’s lead to 28-18.

The second quarter featured much of the same, culminating in a buzzer-beating Payton Pritchard shot from beyond half court that extended Boston’s lead to 21 points.

Dallas never recovered.

There was no letdown for the Celtics after halftime. Boston increased its advantage to as much as 26 points in the third quarter and never let Dallas get within striking distance. The fourth quarter marked a coronation.

The victory has far-reaching consequences for the Celtics’ legacy.

In the big scheme of things, the Celtics reclaimed sole possession of the all-time NBA championship, no longer tied with their bitter rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers. Since 1986, the Lakers had won eight titles to Boston’s one, including three consecutive wins since 2008, tying the Celtics at 17 victories each. Boston sits alone once more, having won its 18th championship.

Tatum and Brown are now certified. The All-Star teammates were often questioned and chastised for failing to deliver on the biggest platforms in their previous six seasons as the franchise’s shared faces. The Miami Heat stunned them in two Eastern Conference finals, and they watched Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors win a championship at TD Garden in 2022. Those questions are no more.

Tatum and Brown now join a distinguished group 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 in leading a team synonymous with brilliance to championship success.

Brad Stevens, President of Basketball Operations, brought his distinctive basketball mind from the Celtics’ sideline to the front office in 2021. He tinkered with the roster and eventually made championship-building moves, including acquiring Al Horford, Holiday, Derrick White, and Kristaps Porziņģis. These moves coincided with difficult decisions, such as parting with franchise favorite Marcus Smart and All-Star Kemba Walker.

Head coach Joe Mazzulla, who was elevated in 2022 following Ime Udoka’s controversial departure, attracted criticism throughout his first season guiding the team, which missed the NBA Finals. Now he is a champion.

For the Celtics, winning the title is not the finish, but rather the beginning. Tatum (26 years old) and Brown (27) are just entering their prime and have their sights set on sealing their names in Celtics franchise history. What a start to the championship season.