Celtics secure 18th NBA Championship with Game 5 victory over Mavericks
The Boston Celtics clinched their 18th NBA championship by defeating the Dallas Mavericks 106-88 in Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals.
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with a stellar performance, scoring 31 points, dishing out 11 assists, and grabbing 8 rebounds.
This feat places him alongside Stephen Curry, Michael Jordan, James Worthy, and Walt Frazier as the only players in NBA Finals history to record 30 points and 10 assists in a series-clinching victory, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Jaylen Brown contributed 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Jrue Holiday added 15 points and 11 rebounds.
The Celtics last captured the Larry O’Brien trophy in 2008, triumphing over the Los Angeles Lakers in a historic 11th NBA Finals matchup between the two teams.
Under the leadership of then-head coach Doc Rivers, Boston defeated a Kobe Bryant-led Lakers team in six games.
Paul Pierce was named Finals MVP, averaging 21.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.3 assists.
Kevin Garnett famously exclaimed, “Anything’s possible,” in a postgame interview, cementing the moment in Celtics history.
Reflecting on the world in 2008, much has changed since the Celtics last reigned supreme in the NBA.
Source: espn.com
