BOSTON (AP) Jayson Tatum put his hands behind his head, with TD Garden fans standing on their feet cheering around him, and took it all in.
Walking to the bench, he wrapped both arms around Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla.
The journey was complete.
The Boston Celtics again stand alone among NBA champions.
Tatum had 31 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds, and the Celtics topped the Dallas Mavericks 106-88 on Monday night to win the franchise’s 18th championship, breaking a tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most in league history.
Boston earned its latest title on the 16th anniversary of hoisting its last Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2008. It marks the 13th championship won this century by one of the city’s Big 4 professional sports franchises.
“It means the world,” Tatum said on stage after the team received the trophy from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “It’s been a long time. And damn I’m grateful.”
Jaylen Brown added 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists, and was voted the NBA Finals MVP.
“I share this with my brothers and my partner in crime Jayson Tatum,” Brown said after the 107th career playoff game he and Tatum have played together – the most for any duo before winning a title.
BOSTON — From a 2024 postseason low to the ultimate high, Boston forward Jaylen Brown earned Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP on Monday with a 21-point performance that included eight rebounds and six assists in the Celtics’ 106-86 victory in Game 5 over the Dallas Mavericks.
Brown bounced back from a playoff-low 10 points in Game 4 to lead Boston to a 4-1 series victory over Dallas and the club’s NBA-record 18th championship.
“You’re going to have to fight and just stay in the moment,” Brown said after Game 4. “That’s what matters most. At this level, you have some very talented players who are going to be on the floor, and you’ve got to bring it every single night.”
Brown certainly did that in Game 5 with 15 points in the first half, combining with Jayson Tatum’s 16 as Boston stormed to a 67-46 lead at halftime. The Eastern Conference Finals MVP, Brown averaged 20.8 points in the Finals with 5.4 rebounds, 5 assists and 1.6 steals while shooting 44% overall.
Source – Dallas Mavericks vs Boston Celtics Jun 17, 2024 Game Summary | NBA.com
Source – Celtics’ Jaylen Brown named 2024 Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP | NBA.com
