Jayson Tatum delivered a scintillating 31-point performance to lead the Boston Celtics to their 18th NBA championship with a commanding 106-88 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Monday. The win at TD Garden secured a 4-1 series triumph, 16 years after their last championship against the Los Angeles Lakers in 2008.
Overcoming a humbling 38-point loss in Game 4, the Celtics stamped out any hopes of a Mavericks comeback. Tatum’s dynamic play on both ends of the floor set the tone, and he was visibly emotional post-game, declaring, “Oh my God. It’s a surreal feeling. We did it.”
Jaylen Brown, crowned Finals MVP after averaging 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.0 assists, contributed 21 points. Reflecting on the team’s cohesive effort, Brown said, “It was a full team effort.”
The Mavericks, led by Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, concluded their unexpected playoff run with a valiant yet unsuccessful effort. Doncic, who scored 28 points, expressed pride in his team despite the loss, saying, “We didn’t win the Finals, but we did have a hell of a season.”
Irving, who was limited to 15 points and faced hostile chants from Boston fans, looked forward to the future, stating, “We got to the top of the mountain and we failed, so now we have to start at the bottom, and that should be inspiring.”
Boston’s dominance was clear from the start, as they surged to a 67-46 halftime lead, capped by Payton Pritchard’s half-court buzzer-beater. The Celtics’ stifling defense and balanced offense maintained a double-digit lead from the second quarter onward, ensuring their historic victory.
The final period saw the Celtics maintain their momentum, as the TD Garden crowd cheered them on to a decisive win, solidifying Boston’s place as the most decorated franchise in NBA history.
