No team in NBA history has won as many championships as the Boston Celtics, who added their 18th banner and broke the tie with the rival Los Angeles Lakers with Monday's commanding 106-88 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden.
Bleacher Report @BleacherReportCELTICS WIN THE NBA FINALS 🔥<br><br>BOSTON IS BACK ON TOP 🏆☘️ <a href="">
The closeout game was more of a coronation for a core group of Celtics winning their first championship than a truly competitive game. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown helped lead the franchise to five of the last seven Eastern Conference Finals and finally reached the mountaintop with Monday's performance.
Tatum was spectacular with 31 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds and two steals, while Brown added 21 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals on his way to the NBA Finals MVP.
The duo also drew plenty of reaction from social media:
Bleacher Report @BleacherReportJAYLEN BROWN WINS FINALS MVP 🏆<br><br>Welcome to champions club, JB 👏 <a href="">
NBA TV @NBATVJayson Tatum has passed Kobe Bryant for the most <a href="">#NBAPlayoffs</a> points ever before turning 27 🔥 <a href="">
Bleacher Report @BleacherReportJAYSON TATUM IS ON FIRE. 🔥 <a href="">
Josh Eberley 🇨🇦 @JoshEberleyFinals MVP is an exclusive club, man. Special. Good for Jaylen.
David Aldridge @davidaldridgedcIMHO, that's the right call. Jaylen Brown was incredible in this series at both ends, and a worthy Finals MVP.
Arash Madani @ArashMadaniIs this the greatest Celtics team ever?<br> <br>Regular season mark of 64-18.<br> <br>None of the 17 previous championship teams had a better playoff record. They've had only three postseason losses in 2024.<br> <br>And now, four Hall of Famers (Horford, Holiday, Tatum, Brown) are on the roster.
GaTa @GaTaGEDTatum & Brown one of the coldest duos ever !!!!!
Jerry Thornton @jerrythornton1Be kind to the Jason Tatum doubter in your life. Their narrative is dying hard tonight
Zay✨ @ZAYYYTHEGOATTatum the best player on the floor my God what a dominant game.
riann ☘︎ (celtics finals edition) @msriannbakesso the conversation is over<br>it's official<br>I'm done hearing about who's "him"<br>jaylen brown and jayson tatum are THEM. there is no HIM.
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBSI can't find it in me to dislike this Celtics title. I can't root against a team based on city.<br><br>Celtics did everything right. They drafted their centerpieces. Aggressively built an awesome and likable supporting cast. Overcame years of disappointments. Worthy and fun champs.
𝗗𝗲𝘂𝗰𝗲☘️ @deuceedeuceeTatum legacy game to win 18 <a href="">
Lil'Jae Franks @JaequanFranksTatum legacy game MAMA I PRAYED FOR THIS <a href="">
kenny @kiiLkennyThe only thing remotely competitive in this series is Tatum & Brown fighting for the MVP
Kevin O'Connor @KevinOConnorNBAJayson Tatum has been so good getting to the rim. Playing with patience.
John Fanta @John_FantaIt's Jayson Tatum's time. It's Jaylen Brown's time. And for this Celtics team, their supporting cast has been so much more well-rounded than the Mavs, who haven't had enough. Hats off to Joe Mazzulla. In his second season at the helm, what a job done with this group.
73-9 and THEY LIED @CuffsTheLegendJayson Tatum & Jaylen Brown are about to repeat and go on a Jordan & Pippen type run 🏆 ☘️
It was fairly clear how Game 5 would end in the early going.
Boston ripped off a 9-0 run to end the first quarter with Sam Hauser hitting a three and the Tatum-Brown combination finishing transition opportunities. The crowd reached a fever point as the avalanche continued with Jrue Holiday providing secondary scoring, Kristaps Porziņģis returning for the first time since Game 2 and the two stars stuffing the stat sheet.
Just when it looked like things couldn't get worse for the Mavericks, Payton Pritchard drained a half-court shot at the buzzer to give the Celtics a 21-point halftime lead.
Bleacher Report @BleacherReportPAYTON PRITCHARD HT BUZZER BEATER FROM THE LOGO 😱<br><br>(via <a href="">@NBA</a>) <a href="">
Bleacher Report @BleacherReportPatrick Mahomes is not a Payton Pritchard fan 🤣 <a href="">
Any chance at a comeback would have required vintage performances from Dallas' two stars, but those never came. Luka Dončić couldn't find his stroke from deep despite contributing in other areas on his way to 28 points, 12 rebounds and four assists, while Kyrie Irving shot an ugly 5-of-16 from the field against his former team.
They couldn't match Tatum, who was the best player on the floor for extended stretches and continued to show a willingness to facilitate even with an NBA Finals MVP hanging in the balance. That passing helped ensure the Celtics had an answer for any glimmer of hope for the Mavericks.
Boston's defense also deserves plenty of credit.
Dallas didn't even score during the first three minutes of the fourth quarter as seemingly every shot was contested. Even Derrick White blocked a Dereck Lively II dunk attempt at the rim.
NBA @NBA"Vertical with a 7-foot center."<br><br>One of the game's special shot-blocking guards. <a href=""> <a href="">
NBA @NBA"He's relishing this so close to his first championship."<br><br>Jayson Tatum is sensing the moment. <a href=""> <a href="">
Throw in Tatum taking over as a scorer on the offensive end in the fourth quarter, and all that was left to do was party for the Celtics and their fans.
And now they stand alone with the most championships in NBA history.
