(Boston) The Boston Celtics are once again alone on their throne in the NBA.
Jayson Tatum had 31 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds as the Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks 106-88 on Monday to win their 18th NBA championship.
The Celtics thus broke a tie at the top of the NBA chessboard with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Their last Larry O’Brien Trophy triumph was in 2008.
“’It means everything,’” Tatum said after receiving the trophy from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. It’s been a long time and I’m grateful for it. »
Jaylen Brown added 21 points and was named Finals MVP. Jrue Holiday had 15 points and 11 rebounds.
“I share this with my brothers and my partner in crime Jayson Tatum,” said Brown, who was playing a career-high 107th playoff game with Tatum for a duo before winning a championship.
Center Kristaps Porzingis also made his presence felt by returning to the game after a two-game absence due to a dislocated tendon in his left ankle. The giant-sized Latvian scored five points in 17 minutes of play.
The Celtics went 16-3 in the playoffs after going 80-21 in the regular season. Their winning percentage of .792 is the second best in team history after that of 1985-86 (.820), when they also took home the top honors.
Second-year head coach Joe Mazzulla, 35, became the youngest coach to guide his team to the championship since Bill Russell in 1969.
“You have very few opportunities in your life to be exceptional,” Mazzulla said.
Luka Doncic had 28 points and 12 rebounds for the Mavericks, who were unable to extend the series after avoiding a sweep with a 38-point victory in Game 4.
Kyrie Irving, who was the target of boos and mocking chants from Celtics fans, was limited to 15 points and made only five of his 16 shots in the heat of the game.
“The crowd can chant whatever they want. We were overseas, she will be against us, said Mavericks guard Josh Green. He [Irving] knows how to not let that affect him and he’s a big leader for us on the field and in the locker room.
“We have nothing but respect for Kyrie,” he added. We will always come to his defense. »
NBA teams have yet to win a series in 157 occasions after falling behind 0-3.
“It wasn’t our night offensively,” said Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd. We have a young team. We have a young core. I think it’s an exciting time for Mavericks fans. »
On Monday, the Celtics never trailed and took advantage of the energy of the crowd, giving themselves an advantage of up to 26 points during the game.
The Mavericks fell behind by one late in the first quarter, when the Celtics scored 12 of the next 15 points, including eight courtesy of Tatum and Brown.
The Celtics did it again against the Mavericks in the second quarter. The visitors came within nine points of their rivals when the Celtics scored 19 of the next 26 points, capped by a Payton Pritchard three-pointer from midcourt on the final shot of the half. The Celtics therefore led 67-46 at halftime.
The local favorites were never worried afterwards.