Exactly 16 years after winning their league-leading 17th NBA championship, the Boston Celtics overcame the Dallas Mavericks to earn their new league-leading 18th NBA championship. The Celtics beat the Mavericks at home in game 5 106-88, breaking the tie for franchise championships with the Los Angeles Lakers.
In game 1, the Celtics won 107-89 to lead the series 1-0. Although six Celtics scored double digits, none were more important than Kristaps Porzingis’s 20 points off the bench in his limited 21 minutes in his return from a right calf strain that has sidelined him for most of the playoffs. Brown went for 22 points and 6 rebounds and Tatum had 16 and 11.
Although Luka Doncic scored 30 points in this game, Kyrie Irving’s historical struggles in Boston continued, scoring only 12 points. Derrick Lively II and Daniel Gafford also struggled to find the bucket against the big man tandem of Boston consisting of Porzingis and Al Horford. As a whole, the Mavs struggled from three-point range going 7-27 for the game.
In game 2, the Mavericks responded with a far closer game, but still fell to the Celtics 105-98 to go down 0-2 in the series before traveling back to Dallas. Luka continued his legendary playoff run with his 7th triple double at 32-11-11 to tie Wilt Chamberlain for second place for most triple-doubles in a single postseason.
The Celtics continued their scoring dominance with Jrue Holiday leading the team with 26, Brown with 21, and both Tatum and Derick White with 18. Tatum was only one rebound short of a triple double.
Not letting off the gas from the first two games, the Celtics won game 3 106-99 to lead the series 3-0. Jaylen Brown continued his playoff dominance going 30-8-8 with Tatum finding his finals footing achieving a stat line of 31-6-5. Leaving Boston for this game, Kyrie Irving bounced back scoring 35, with Luka following behind with 27-6-6.
For game 4, the Dallas Mavericks shifted into a gear they had not shown in the finals routing the Celtics 122-84, thereby forcing a game 5. In addition to Luka and Irving scoring 29 and 21 respectively, there were three bench members who scored double digits, including Derrick Lively II earning a double-double of points and rebounds. No player for the Celtics scored more than 15, but being up 3-0 previously, there was very little pressure on them for the game.
Heading back to Boston for game 5, the Celtics bounced back comfortably to beat the Mavericks 106-88. In this game, the Celtics led from the first bucket was laid in by Jrue Holiday 20 seconds into the game.
Following game 5 and the Celtics being presented the Larry O’Brien Championship trophy, Jaylen Brown was named the Finals MVP, earning the Bill Russell Trophy and edging out Tatum for the award, even though Tatum closed as the favorite to win the award.
Besides being tied for second most triple-doubles in a single postseason, Luka finished the playoffs leading in all major stat categories. Making him the first player in NBA history to lead the playoffs in points, rebounds, assists, and steals. Although the title is far more important, this is an incredible feat and should be recognized.
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