The Boston Celtics triumphed over the Dallas Mavericks with a score of 106-88 on a Monday evening, marking their 18th NBA championship, a record that puts them one step ahead of their long-standing rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers. Following the trophy ceremony, the Celtics’ head coach, Joe Mazzulla, aged 35, commented on his team’s achievement, remarking that seizing opportunities for greatness is vital, and his team certainly did so.
What had been anticipated as a string of fierce matches resulted in a relatively easy win for the Celtics. Achieving a Friday night victory on their home turf, they maintained a lead of 21 points during half-time and commanded the game. The 4-1 series win by the Celtics continued unchallenged, even when the Mavericks managed a 38-point landslide in the fourth game. This smoothly assured win mirrored their entire playoff performance, where they only lost three matches.
Commenting on their post-Game 4 performance, Celtics forward Jayson Tatum stated that they have shown admirable resilience throughout the year, and this game wasn’t an exception. “A debt was owed to our fans. It’s been a long pursuit,” he remarked.
On Monday evening, Tatum, who had been listed in the All-NBA first team for a third consecutive season, shone brightly with a tally of 31 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds. Remarkably, this win occurred precisely 16 years after the Celtics’ previous NBA championship victory in 2008.
The title of finals MVP was conferred upon Jaylen Brown, who scored 21 points in the match. Brown, expressing his joy, highlighted the team’s collective effort and mentioned sharing this honour with his teammate Jayson Tatum.
The Mavericks’ chance of victory never crystallised on Monday night. Luka Dončić managed to accumulate 28 points and 12 rebounds but his defensive slips, coupled with seven turnovers and an initial streak of six unsuccessful three-point attempts, caused Dallas to miss the opportunity to grip the match positively from the start.
Expressing his pride, Dončić commended everyone involved in the game from his fellow players to the coaches and staff working behind the lines. Although they didn’t secure victory in the finals, the season was one to remember, he stated. He also highlighted his remarkable achievement of being only the 11th player to notch more than 3,000 points in a single season.
Meanwhile, the other Dallas key player, Irving, struggled once more against his previous team, finishing with a mere 15 points from 5 out of 16 attempts. It’s obvious his track record against them isn’t great, with 13 losses in the last 14 encounters post his controversial 2019 departure.
Offering his reflections, Irving stated that finally encountering real competition that truly bested them played a key role in their defeat. Acknowledging that they were unable to counter many of the opponents’ strong moves, he embodied respect by shaking hands with the players of the Celtics, commending their fantastic five-year journey.
Positive remarks came in from the Mavs’ coach Kidd, who’d tasted victory in his playing days. He mentioned that his team put up a good fight despite the final series result ending 4-1 against the Celtics. The inability to land crucial shots and turnovers cost them dearly, but on the whole, he applauded the team’s effort, pointing out the bright aspects of the season.
The NBA championship brings to a halt an unfortunate cycle of near victories the Celtics have endured including their finals defeat two years ago and four conference finals losses in the past eight seasons.
Responding to naysayers doubting the team’s ability to deliver, Tatum asked, “What they gonna say now?” In a season where they came out top in 80 of their 101 games, the final word indeed belonged to the Celtics on Monday.