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Celtics capture 18th championship in franchise history with 106-88 defeat of Mavericks

© David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Celtics have put a bow on the 2023-24 NBA season with their 18th championship in franchise history after a 106-88 Game 5 blowout victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

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Boston now has the most NBA titles of any team, breaking a tie with the Los Angeles Lakers. Their last title before today came exactly 16 years ago in 2008 against the Lakers.

There was no team that could have stopped Boston tonight, as it came in hot right out of the gates and did not look back, leading wire to wire.

Jayson Tatum had one of the best closeout games in recent Finals history, finishing with 31 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds. Tatum also surpassed Kobe Bryant for the most playoff points by a player under 27 years old.

Jaylen Brown added 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Jrue Holiday had a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Every Boston starter had at least nine points and eight rebounds, including Al Horford (nine points, nine rebounds) who won his first NBA Finals after 17 NBA seasons and 186 playoff games.

Boston shut down Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving just one game after they torched them in Dallas Friday. Doncic had 28 points and 12 rebounds, but was only 2-for-9 from 3. Irving had 15 points on 5-of-16 shooting and nine assists.

The Mavericks lose their first Finals appearance since they won the title in 2011.

Game 5 Flow

The Celtics came out with intensity on both ends of the floor, going on a 9-2 run to start the game. Dallas came back and got it to within one with just under two minutes to go. However, Boston ended on a 9-0 run to take a 28-18 lead into the second quarter. The Celtics held Doncic to only five points and Irving to 0.

Boston carried this momentum into the second quarter, taking a 21-point lead, 67-46, into halftime after another Payton Pritchard incredible 3-pointer to end the half.

Tatum played his best half of the Finals with 16 points (6-11 FG), nine assists, four rebounds and zero turnovers. Jaylen Brown tacked on 15 points and five rebounds, while Jrue Holiday added 11 points and six rebounds. The Celtics shot 10-of-22 (45.5%) from 3, 25-of-49 (51%) from the field and only had two turnovers in the half.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks turned the ball over seven times and Doncic and Irving struggled mightily. Derrick Jones Jr. had the most points of any Maverick at the half with 10.

There would be no big second half comeback for the Mavericks tonight. The Celtics did not let them within 15 the rest of the way and continued their hot shooting on their way to the 18-point win.

The next NBA event is in less than 10 days: the 2024 NBA Draft on June 26 (second round on June 27). Tatum and Holiday will be playing on Team USA this summer in the 2024 Paris  Olympics.

Dallas Mavericks defeat Boston Celtics in Game 4 of NBA Finals, sending the series back to Boston

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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau

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