Jayson Tatum scored an impressive 31 points, helping the Boston Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks 106-88 and win their 18th NBA championship, tying a record. After being humiliated by Dallas in game four with a 38-point loss, Boston bounced back strong to win the series 4-1 at TD Garden.
Tatum’s strong performance on both offense and defense helped Boston secure victory against their rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers, making them the only NBA team with 18 titles. This win came exactly sixteen years after their last championship win in 2008 against the Lakers.
Jaylen Brown, who was named Finals MVP, added 21 points, and Derrick White contributed 14 points to support Tatum.
Dallas’ Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, who led their team to the playoffs with surprising victories, saw their run end sadly. Doncic was impressive in game four with 28 points, leading the Mavericks to their only win in the series.
After their big loss in game four, the top-ranked Celtics dominated game five, maintaining a double-digit lead from the second quarter onward. By halftime, they were ahead 67-46, setting the stage for their victory.
In the first half, Boston played exceptionally well, and Payton Pritchard’s buzzer-beating three-pointer from near half-court put them up by 21 points, securing their win.