Los Angeles (AFP)
The Boston Celtics, led by their stars Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown, were the only ones with the record number of titles in the NBA, when they won for the eighteenth time in their history by easily clinching the final round series against the Dallas Mavericks 4-1, after defeating them 106-88 on Monday. His land.
This is the Celtics’ first title since 2008 with the Kevin Garnett-Paul Pierce-Ray Allen trio, and allowed them to hold the record they shared with their historic rival, the Los Angeles Lakers.
Tatum, 26 years old, decided the fifth game at TD Garden, scoring 31 points, 11 assists and 8 rebounds, so that the Green Team closed the door on the Mavericks’ return.
Boston, led by its young coach, Joe Mazzola (36 years old), achieved a clear 3-0 lead, before the Mavericks reduced the gap to 1-3 in the fourth game, which they easily won at home by 38 points.
“The feeling is unbelievable,” Tatum said after securing the title. “We did it. We did it. I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry.”
Tatum, who ended the game in tears, continued, “Being part of Celtics history means winning the championship title.”
Jaylen Brown, 27 years old, who was chosen as the best player in the final round and last year signed the most expensive contract in the history of the league ($304 million for five years), provided support for Tatum, scoring 21 points, while Jrue Holiday added 15 and Derrick White 14.
On the other hand, the journey of Dallas and its Slovenian stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving ended in the final round, after it ousted the Western Conference champion Minnesota Timberwolves 4-1 and was preceded by runner-up Oklahoma City 4-2.
Doncic, who was brilliant in Game 4, scored 28 points, while Irving had only 15, amid hostile chants from fans of his former team who were angry about his sudden departure in 2019.
Doncic said, “I am proud of every young man who took to the field. All the coaches and fans are behind us. It is clear that we did not win the final, but we had a tremendous season and I am proud of everyone.”
Regarding his feelings after the match, he answered, “Nothing, sad about the loss.”
Boston confirmed its dominance this season, as it finished at the top of the regular league standings with 64 wins and 18 losses.
In the playoffs, he easily eliminated his opponents, one after another. He defeated the Miami Heat 4-1 in the first round, then the Cleveland Cavaliers 4-1 in the Eastern Conference semi-finals, before crushing the Indiana Pacers 4-0 in the Eastern Conference final.
In the fifth game of the league final against the Mavericks, he created a huge lead since the second quarter, reaching 67-46 between halftime, and maintained his clear lead until the final whistle.
Distributor Brighton Pritchard’s basket was morally remarkable before the break, as he shot it from the midfield line in front of Doncic, landing in the basket amidst the crowd’s madness.
Boston made up for its two disappointments in the last two years. In 2022, it advanced in the final over the Golden State Warriors 2-1 before losing the title to Stephen Curry and his teammates 2-4.
Last year, when he was a strong candidate to win, he lost to the Miami Heat and its star Jimmy Butler in the Eastern Conference final 3-4.
Boston entered the match strong, leading 9-2, preventing Dallas from playing at its natural rhythm.
After leading 13-5, Dallas narrowed the gap to two points, but Boston’s defense reasserted control with two steals from Tatum and Sam Hauser, pulling away 28-18.
Dallas’ defense did not show mercy to Doncic and Irving, while Boston stars Tatum and Brown played comfortably in front of the visitors’ defense.
After the break, veteran Holiday, who was also crowned with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, raised Boston’s lead to 26 points (78-52) in the third quarter and has not looked back since.
Dallas tried to recover late in the third quarter, but Boston maintained its 19-point lead.
In light of the massive crowd support at TD Garden, Boston continued to find holes in the Mavericks’ defense to reach safety and the eighteenth title.
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