BOSTON — Banner 18 secured.
With an inspired performance from wire-to-wire in Game 5 of the NBA Finals Monday night at TD Garden, the Boston Celtics took down the Dallas Mavericks, 106-88, to capture the franchise’s record-breaking 18th championship.
It marks the team’s first title in 16 years, and first for a New England-based professional sports team since the Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII on Feb. 3, 2019.
Jaylen Brown was chosen as Finals MVP. He scored 21 points to go with eight rebounds and six assists in the clinching victory Monday night, and was a catalyst for Boston on both ends of the floor throughout the five game series.
Like they had all season, the Celtics responded after a lackluster defeat three nights earlier in Game 4 — only this time it came on the biggest stage in the most important game of the year.
As has been the case all season when they’re at their best, the Celtics were locked in defensively, purposeful and unselfish offensively, and perhaps most importantly, kept their foot on the gas as they nursed a substantial lead throughout the second half.
Everyone contributed to this historic victory. First-Team All-NBA selection Jayson Tatum dropped a near triple-double with 31 points, 8 rebounds and 11 assists; Jrue Holiday was everywhere and finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds and four assists; Derrick White had 14 points, eight boards and two steals; Sam Hauser knocked down some key shots en route to eight points and four boards; and even Payton Pritchard, who played all of a couple of seconds, drilled one of his patented halfcourt shots to beat the first half buzzer as the Garden crowd erupted.
This was a complete team — perhaps the most complete team the league has seen in quite some time.
They proved it time and time again all season, and they proved it once and for all Monday night on their home floor.
The Celtics finished the job and are NBA champions for the 18th time, now and forever.