The Boston Celtics are NBA Champions. In Game 5 on Monday night, they earned a 106-88 win over the Dallas Mavericks, clinching Banner 18.
Here are three things you might have missed from Game 5.
1. Derrick White blocks Dereck Lively II
The Celtics were up big in the fourth quarter, but at one point, the Mavs looked like they were trying to make a run. As Luka Doncic finally made a few buckets, Dereck Lively II had an opportunity to throw down a jam. But Derrick White sent him packing.
Boston almost certainly would have held on, but this was a huge moment, and it got the crowd pumped up.
2. Jaylen Brown hypes up Payton Pritchard
At the end of the second quarter, Payton Pritchard drained a half-court shot to send the Celtics into half-time. The entire building went ballistic.
And when asked about the feeling of the season finally being over, Brown took time out of his answer to give an incredible quote about Pritchard.
“I mean, it still kind of feels unreal,” Brown said. “It feels like there’s another game or something tomorrow. But, you know, I can’t tell you enough about our group and our coaching staff. They were great all season long. They prepared us for these moments. We had an excellent game plan in the Finals, and then all of the guys contributed.
“Like, for example, like Payton Pritchard, like unreal, right? Unreal. Like just comes in the game and drains one from halfcourt. That dude, he’s a f—ing legend, man. Shout out to Payton Pritchard.”
3. The Celtics did it
The Celtics finally did it. After years of sitting on history’s doorstep, they finally got over the hump. And they did it in front of TD Garden. The crowd was amazing, the atmosphere was amazing, and the entire night was something that will be remembered for a long, long time.
Special stuff.
