Celtics win record 18th championship with Finals victory over Mavericks
BOSTON, Mass. (WLNE) — The Boston Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks 106 to 88 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals at TD Garden on Monday night to win their 18th NBA Championship.
After a dreadful Game 4 performance in Dallas, the Celtics left no doubt in Game 5, jumping to a 10-point lead thanks to a 9-0 run at the end of the first quarter.
The offensive onslaught was led by sparkplug Jayson Tatum, who had an all-around sterling evening with 31 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds.
Boston would extend its lead to 21 by half, capped off by a miracle shot by Payton Pritchard, hurling a last-second prayer from half-court.
Payton Pritchard: three seconds. Three points.
Past half court at the buzzer. It’s what he does. @abc6 #nba #nbafinals #differenthere #nbaplayoffs
— Ian Steele (@RealianSteele6) June 18, 2024
Not to be overshadowed was Jaylen Brown, who tallied 21 points to go along with eight rebounds and six assists, rounding out a superb series that earned him the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award.
Jrue Holiday also had an excellent night en route to winning his second title, posting a double-double by racking up 15 points and leading the team with 11 rebounds.
It was a satisfying ending for Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, a Rhode Island native, as his team dominated the floor in front of the home crowd.
“You get very few chances in life to be great,” Mazzulla said. “You get very few chances in life to carry on the ownership and responsibility of what these banners are and all the great people and great players that came here.”
“When you have few chances in life, you just gotta take the bull by the horns and you gotta own it,” Mazzulla added.
Al Horford notably stepped up in a big way for a C’s lineup largely missing Kristaps Porzingis, who was hampered by a leg injury.
On the other side, Luka Doncic tallied 28 points and 12 rebounds as the lone bright spot in a dismal performance by the Mavs.
