DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks fell to the Boston Celtics 106-88 in Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals.
The Celtics will now hoist their 18th championship banner with a win that seemed theirs from the first quarter.
Boston got an early lead in the game. The first three buckets for the Celtics all came at the hands of Jrue Holiday. Holiday got three open layups -- one coming off a fast break opportunity he created after getting a block on Kyrie Irving.
The Celtics dominated the first quarter, ending with an 8-0 run to give them a 10-point lead heading into the second quarter.
Boston didn't relent in the second. The Celtics continued to build on their lead, ending the half with a buzzer beater from Peyton Prichard, putting Boston 21-points ahead.
That 21-point lead ballooned to 26 points in the third, making the fourth quarter a foregone conclusion.
Ultimately, the Celtics played like the better team in this one. Boston out-rebounded, out-defended and outscored the Mavericks the whole game. The Mavs lost control of the ball repeatedly, finishing the game with 12 turnovers to Boston's seven.
It was night and day from the Mavericks Game 4 win at home.
It was another hostile environment for Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving, too. Fans of his former team chanted "Kyrie sucks" throughout the game, and booed Irving anytime he touched the ball.
Irving had a mediocre performance, scoring just 15 points on a measly 31% shooting, continuing his losing record in TD Garden since leaving the Celtics.
Doncic tried to will an efficient game, posting 28 points and 12 rebounds, but it wasn't enough.
Around six minutes into the first quarter, Kristaps Porzingis checked in. An injury kept him out of Games 3 and 4. But the Latvian forward posted just five points.
Still, for Boston fans, today's win will feel like déjà vu.
Exactly 16 years ago on the same date, the Boston Celtics won the 2008 NBA Finals with stars like Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. And 6/17 has even more significance to Celtics fans: 617 is the Boston area code.
With their 18th NBA Finals win, Boston holds the record for most championships in the NBA -- breaking the tie with their rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers.