Darnell Sallins, Writer
The Boston Celtics have captured their 18th NBA Championship on Monday night defeating the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. The 18th Title breaks the tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most championship by a single franchise in the NBA.
Sixteen years to the date when the Celtics captured their 17th Title over the Los Angeles Lakers thus passing the Lakers for the most titles back then, have now surpassed them on the same calendar date, June 17.
After losing Game 4 in Dallas by 38 points on Friday night, the Celtics had all weekend to collect themselves in what turned into history on Monday night.
Game 5 was led by the dynamic duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. Brown coming off the Conference Finals MVP as the Celtics sweep the Indiana Pacers, continued his stellar playoff run into the NBA Finals putting up 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists in the close-out Game 5.
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics in Game 5 as he put on his game of these NBA Finals with 31 points, 8 rebounds, and 11 assists while just under 50% from the field.
Brown completes his NBA Finals averaging 20.8 points per game on 44% shooting from the field, 5.4 rebounds per game, and 5.0 assists per game enroute to the Bill Russell Finals MVP.
Jayson Tatum averaged 22.2 points per game, 7.8 rebounds per game, and 7.2 assists per games in the NBA Finals.
But it was a team effort to capture this history 18th title. Kristaps Porzignis returned for Game 1 of the NBA Finals and put on a show after missing 10 games with a calf strain. Porzignis scored 20 points to open up the Finals against his former team.
Game 2 was the Jrue Holiday game. Holiday, an NBA Champion from his Milwaukee Bucks days, put in 26 points and 11 rebounds as the Celtics went 2-0 in the Finals.
And Games 3 and 4, the dynamic duo of Brown and Tatum took the Celtics the rest of the way.
Congratulations to the Boston Celtics, the 2024 NBA Champions