BOSTON — Jayson Tatum delivered a stellar performance, scoring 31 points and dishing out 11 assists, as the Boston Celtics secured their league-record 18th championship with a commanding 106-88 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday night.
Tatum also grabbed eight rebounds, while Jaylen Brown contributed 21 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. This triumph marks the 16th anniversary of the Celtics’ last title, achieved with a 16-3 playoff run, and breaks the tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most championships in NBA history.
Jrue Holiday added 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Derrick White chipped in 14 points for Boston, who clinched the best-of-seven series on their second attempt. Brown was named Finals MVP, averaging 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and five assists throughout the series.
Luka Doncic led the Mavericks with 28 points and 12 rebounds but also had seven turnovers. Kyrie Irving contributed 15 points and nine assists, while Josh Green scored 14 points for Dallas.
Boston took control late in the second quarter after a Dallas timeout, extending their lead significantly. The Celtics scored 17 of the next 24 points, highlighted by a spectacular 49-foot buzzer-beater from Payton Pritchard, giving them a 67-46 halftime lead.
In the third quarter, Holiday’s layup pushed Boston’s lead to 78-52. Although Dallas mounted a brief comeback, cutting the deficit to 80-62 with a 10-2 run, the Celtics maintained an 86-67 advantage heading into the fourth quarter and never let their lead drop below 18 points for the remainder of the game.
The Celtics shot 42.7% from the field, while the Mavericks shot 44.9% but struggled with turnovers and were outscored at the free-throw line.