LIVE UPDATES
The Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks 106-88 on Monday to win a record -tying 18th NBC championship trophy and thanks to a spectacular 31-point performance by Jayson Tatum.
Humbled by Dallas in a 38-point game four drubbing on Friday, Boston slammed the door on any chance of a Mavericks fightback to seal a 4-1 series victory at an electric TD Garden.
Tatum spearheaded a superb performance at both ends of the floor as Boston pulled clear of their arch-rival Los Angeles Lakers to stand alone with 18 NBA titles.
The emphatic win came 16 years to the day after Boston’s last NBA Finals win — over the Lakers — in 2008.
“Oh my God. It’s a surreal feeling. We did it,” a jubilant Tatum exclaimed after the triumph. “We did it — oh my God, we did it!”
“This is an incredible feeling. I’m lost for words. I’m sorry.”
Jaylen Brown, who was named Finals Most valuable Player, gave Tatum scoring support with 21 points, while Jrue Holiday added 15 and Derrick White 14.
“It was a full team effort,” said Brown, who averaged 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists in five Finals games.
The defeat marked a miserable end to the finals for Dallas duo Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, who had led the Western Conference fifth seeds on an improbable giant-killing journey to the NBA Finals.
“I’m proud of every guy that stepped on the floor, all the coaches, all the people behind,” defeated Doncic said afterwards.
“Obviously, we didn’t win the Finals, but we did have a hell of a season and I’m proud of every one of them.”
The Celtics laid the foundations for victory with a controlled first-half performance that saw them open up a 67-46 lead at the break.
