The Boston Celtics have once again emerged as NBA champions.
Jayson Tatum led the way with 31 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds as the Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks 106-88 on Monday night to secure the franchise’s 18th championship, surpassing the Los Angeles Lakers for the most titles in league history.
This victory comes on the 16th anniversary of the Celtics’ last championship win in 2008. It also marks the 13th championship won by one of Boston’s Big 4 professional sports teams this century.
Other key contributions came from Jaylen Brown, who scored 21 points and was named the NBA Finals MVP, and Jrue Holiday, who finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Kristaps Porzingis returned from injury to add five points in 17 minutes.
Boston finished the postseason with a stellar 16-3 record and an overall record of 80-21, boasting a .792 winning percentage that ranks second in team history.
At just 35 years old, second-year coach Joe Mazzulla became the youngest coach since Bill Russell in 1969 to lead a team to a championship.
Luka Doncic put up 28 points and 12 rebounds for Dallas, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Celtics from clinching the title.
The Celtics dominated throughout the game, leading by as many as 26 points and never trailing the Mavericks.
The team excelled in crucial moments, outscoring Dallas in the last two minutes of the first and second quarters.
Current Celtics stars Tatum and Brown earned their first championship rings, signifying a new era of success for the team.
The victory was a culmination of the team’s relentless effort on both ends of the court and showcased their ability to overcome adversity.
It also marked the end of a challenging two-year journey for the Celtics, who fell short in the finals in 2022 and missed the playoffs last season after a tough loss in the conference finals.
