The Boston Celtics won the NBA Championship for the 18th time in their existence.
The Celtics embarked on a 9-0 run to conclude the first quarter of Monday’s NBA Finals Game 5 against the Dallas Mavericks, then cruised to a 106-88 triumph. The victory awarded the franchise their first title since the 2008 NBA Finals, which they won 4-1.It can be a group of two people, one of them is looking for a job, another is looking for a place to live, and another is looking for a partner.
The Celtics set the tone straight immediately when they took the court for the first time in the Finals, wearing their classic green uniforms. They then proceeded to give a performance worthy of their colours. It was also fitting for a team that finished with an NBA-record 64 regular-season wins and produced some of the best advanced analytics in league history.
They accomplished it on Monday by defending. They completed it in threes. They did it, with stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown leading the way. It was an appropriate finish to a historic Celtics season.
On Monday, Boston took the first shot, and Jrue Holiday scored the first three points, giving them a 9-2 lead. Dallas rallied back, closing the gap to 19-18 in the final two minutes of the quarter. However, a 9-0 run to end the fourth pushed Boston’s lead to 28-18.
The second quarter was much the same, culminating in a buzzer-beating Payton Pritchard shot from outside halfcourt that increased Boston’s lead to 21 points.The Celtics had no letdown after halftime. Boston pushed its lead to as many as 26 points in the third quarter, never allowing Dallas to approach within striking distance. The fourth quarter saw a coronation.
After Brown, Holiday, and Kristaps Porziņģis dominated the Finals, Tatum took over as a scorer and playmaker on Monday night. He led the team with 31 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds, and two steals. He only turned the ball over twice.
Tatum is overcome with emotion; Brown wins MVP.
When it was finished, he hid his hands in his face as confetti fell from the rafters, overcome with emotion. He then rejoiced alongside his son, Jayson Jr.
Brown recorded 21 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and two steals. Throughout the series, he averaged 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and five assists, earning Finals MVP honours. He can add the trophy to his collection, along with his MVP hardware from the Eastern Conference finals, and permanently silence the doubters about his supermax contract and left hand.
The win has far-reaching implications for the Celtics’ legacy.
In the grand scheme of things, the Celtics reclaimed exclusive possession of the all-time NBA championship, no longer sharing it with their bitter rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers. Since 1986, the Lakers have won eight championships to Boston’s one, including three consecutive victories since 2008, tying the Celtics with 17 wins each. Boston is alone once more after winning its 18th championship.Celtics defeat Mavericks to win their 18th NBA title, surpassing the Lakers.
Tatum and Brown are now certified. The All-Star teammates were frequently questioned and ridiculed for failing to produce on the greatest stages over their previous six seasons as the franchise’s shared faces. The Miami Heat stunned them in two Eastern Conference finals, and they witnessed Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors win the NBA title at TD Garden in 2022. Those questions are no more.Celtics vs. Mavericks live blog and score: Game 5 updates from the NBA Finals at TD Garden.
Tatum and Brown now join a prestigious 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 in leading a team known for brilliance to championship glory.NBA Finals 2024 Game 5: Boston Celtics defeat Dallas Mavericks to win the title – live
Brad Stevens, President of Basketball Operations, brings his unique basketball perspective from the Celtics’ bench to the front office in 2021. He improved the roster by acquiring Al Horford, Holiday, Derrick White, and Porziņģis, ultimately leading to championship success. These decisions coincided with difficult decisions, such as parting ways with franchise favourite Marcus Smart and All-Star Kemba Walker.
Head coach Joe Mazzulla, who was promoted in 2022 after Ime Udoka’s contentious resignation, faced criticism throughout his first season leading the team, which missed the NBA Finals. In his second season as head coach, he has already won a title.