By Onin Miguel Develos / AdDU Intern
ON THE same day as their last championship 16 years ago, The Boston Celtics captured their 18th NBA championship after defeating the Dallas Mavericks 106-88 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. The Celtics edged the tie with their heated rival, the Los Angeles Lakers, for the most NBA titles with 18.
The Celtics had the best regular season record (64-18) and breezed throughout the playoffs finishing with a record of 16-3.
For the sixth straight NBA season, A new champion has emerged.
Boston started off hot having a 9-2 run with Jrue Holiday scoring the first three baskets at the start of the first quarter. Dallas closed the gap with 19-18 in the final 2 minutes of the first quarter. The Celtics ended the quarter with a 9-0 run finishing the quarter 28-18.
The second quarter saw the same production from the Celtics and ended halftime with a halfcourt shot from Payton Pritchard bringing the lead to 21 points.
Dallas could not match the Celtics’ pace.
Boston extended its lead up to 26 points in the third quarter and never took their foot off the gas until the final buzzer.
Jaylen Brown finished the game 21 points with 8 rebounds and 6 assists and brought home the Finals MVP. He averaged 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5 assists throughout the NBA Finals series.
Jayson Tatum finished the game with 31 points, 8 rebounds, and 11 assists. He finished as the top scorer and playmaker of the game.
Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks continued to struggle against Boston’s defense and were outmatched throughout the entire game.
Luka Doncic struggled from the 3-point line throughout the game shooting 2-9 from the field but ended the game with 28 points, 12 assists, and 5 rebounds. He also turned the ball over 7 times.
Kyrie Irving finished the game with 15 points and 9 assists. He shot 5-16 from the field.
Celtics head coach Joe Mazulla told reporters afterward, “It was a joy watching the guys just grow as a team throughout the year but also like really work at it.” “There is a group of guys in the locker room that decided they wanted to win day one, and credit to them,” he added.
