The Boston Celtics have once again ascended to the pinnacle of the NBA, securing their record-breaking 18th championship with a decisive 106-88 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
This historic triumph propels the Celtics past the Los Angeles Lakers for the most championships in league history, coming on the 16th anniversary of their 2008 title win.
Jayson Tatum spearheaded Boston’s victorious effort with a near triple-double performance, amassing 31 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds. As the final buzzer sounded, Tatum basked in the adulation of the TD Garden crowd before embracing head coach Joe Mazzulla, savoring the culmination of their arduous journey.
“This means the world,” Tatum expressed on stage, reflecting on the team’s arduous path to glory.
Jaylen Brown, who contributed 21 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, was named Finals MVP, sharing the accolade with his longtime teammate.
“I share this with my brothers and my partner in crime, Jayson Tatum,”Brown stated, marking their 107th playoff game together—the most for any duo before securing a title.
The Celtics’ triumph was a team effort, bolstered by Jrue Holiday’s 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Kristaps Porzingis’s return from injury, contributing five points in 17 minutes. Their postseason campaign, ending with a stellar 16-3 record, underscored Boston’s dominance, highlighted by a .792 winning percentage—second only to the legendary 1985-86 Celtics team.
Mazzulla, at 35, became the youngest coach to win an NBA championship since Bill Russell in 1969. “You have very few chances in life to be great,” Mazzulla remarked, reflecting on the team’s remarkable achievement.
Despite Luka Doncic’s valiant 28 points and 12 rebounds for Dallas, the Mavericks struggled to keep pace, particularly in the face of Tatum and Brown’s offensive onslaught. Doncic, hampered by multiple injuries, refused to attribute the series loss to his physical state, emphasizing accountability for the Mavericks’ shortcomings.
Kyrie Irving, formerly of the Celtics, managed just 15 points on a challenging shooting night, adding to his series of defeats against his former team. Nevertheless, Irving remained optimistic about the Mavericks’ future, envisioning consistent championship contention.
Coach Jason Kidd commended his team’s resilience, despite the lopsided series outcome.
“The first step is just to be in it,” Kidd noted, emphasizing the learning experience gained from their Finals appearance.
The Celtics’ victory was cemented by strong starts and finishes to pivotal quarters, with Payton Pritchard’s half-court buzzer-beater at halftime epitomizing their momentum. The championship also honored Celtics legend Bill Russell, with his family present to witness the new generation’s success, led by the dynamic duo of Tatum and Brown.
This championship, rooted in the 2013 trade that brought pivotal draft picks, affirmed Boston’s strategic rebuilding and their emergence as a dominant force. Tatum, reflecting on the journey, encapsulated the team’s sentiment: “I’ll lose all my teeth for a championship,” as Derrick White’s gritty play symbolized their commitment.
As confetti rained down, Tatum’s son Deuce summed up the moment, declaring his father the best in the world—a sentiment echoed by Celtics fans celebrating their team’s historic achievement.
