Celtics-Mavs takeaways: C’s earn Banner 18 with masterful Game 5 win

Celtics-Mavs takeaways: C’s earn Banner 18 with masterful Game 5 win originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

BOSTON — Let the celebration begin. At last, Banner 18 is coming to TD Garden.

The Celtics finished one of the most dominant seasons in franchise history with a wire-to-wire Game 5 win over the Dallas Mavericks in front of their rowdy home crowd. They cruised to a 106-88 victory to seal their 18th championship, breaking their tie atop the league with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Boston celebrates its 18th title exactly 16 years after its last championship on June 17, 2008. Coincidentally, the ’08 C’s also followed a lopsided road loss with a blowout series-clinching victory at home.

With Monday night’s win, the Celtics matched the best postseason winning percentage in franchise history (1986).

Jayson Tatum dropped a game-high 31 points in the victory. Jaylen Brown chipped in 21 to wrap up his sensational playoff run with the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP award.

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving had 28 and 15 points respectively in Dallas’ defeat.

Here are three takeaways from the Celtics’ championship-clinching win as the celebrations begin on Causeway St.

Jayson Tatum silences the naysayers

Earlier this month, Tatum opened up about being “the most scrutinized player” in the playoffs. On Monday night, he quieted the critics with an undeniable performance.

Tatum helped widen the C’s lead in the first half with 16 points and nine assists. The last Celtic to notch 10+ points and 9+ assists in the first half of a playoff game was Paul Pierce in Game 6 of the 2008 NBA Finals exactly 16 years ago. The only other player to have 16+ points and 9+ assists in the first half of a Finals game in the play-by-play era? LeBron James.

Tatum kept it rolling in the second half to finish with 31 points (11-24 FG), 11 assists, and eight rebounds. The 26-year-old superstar is the first Celtics player to have 20 points, 10 assists, and five rebounds in a Finals game since 1986. He is the first C’s player ever with at least 30 points and 10 assists in a Finals game, per Alex Speier of The Boston Globe.

There is an argument to be made that Tatum…

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Author : NBC Sports Boston

Publish date : 2024-06-18 03:31:19

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