(CNN) — The storied Boston Celtics have reclaimed their position as the team with the most NBA titles, thanks to the impressive performances of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
The Celtics secured their league-record 18th title by defeating the Dallas Mavericks 106-88 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals in Boston on Monday night, winning the series 4-1.
Celtics star Jayson Tatum led the charge with a game-high 31 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds. Fellow standout Jaylen Brown contributed 21 points, eight rebounds, and six assists.
“It’s a surreal feeling. We did it! We did it!” Tatum exclaimed during the ABC broadcast after the game. “This is an incredible feeling. I’m lost for words.”
Brown was named the NBA Finals MVP, averaging 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and five assists per game in the series. After receiving the Bill Russell Trophy in front of the home fans, Brown credited part of his success to Tatum, who also had a strong case for MVP.
“It was a full team effort, and I share this with my brothers and my partner in crime, Jayson Tatum. He was with me the whole way,” Brown said.
This championship marks the Celtics’ first since 2008 and places them ahead of the Lakers franchise (with 17 titles won in Minneapolis and Los Angeles) as the team with the most titles in NBA history.
The Mavericks were aiming to become the first team in NBA history to overcome an 0-3 deficit to win a playoff series. They avoided a sweep by defeating the Celtics 122-84 in Game 4 in Dallas on Friday, but this only set the stage for the Celtics to clinch the title on their home floor.
A half-court shot punctuated Boston's dominant first half.
In the first quarter, Boston played controlled basketball, while the Mavericks struggled, hitting only one of their first nine field goal attempts. Just as Dallas found its rhythm and closed the gap to one point, Boston responded with a 9-0 run, ending the quarter with a 28-18 lead.
The Celtics maintained their intensity in the second quarter, extending their lead to as many as 21 points. Central to Boston's impressive performance were the formidable duo of Tatum and Brown, who combined for 31 points in the first half.
Boston punctuated their dominant first half with a half-court buzzer-beater from Payton Pritchard, sending the TD Garden crowd into a frenzy. This shot gave the Celtics their largest lead of the half at 67-46.
In the second half, Boston maintained their momentum, extending their lead to as much as 26 points. Whenever the Mavericks found a glimmer of hope, the Celtics swiftly shut it down.
For the Mavericks, star guard Luka Dončić—who finished third in season MVP voting—scored 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.
Luka Dončić finished with 28 points and 12 rebounds on Monday, while Kyrie Irving added 15 points on 5-of-16 shooting and nine assists. Celtics guard Jrue Holiday contributed 15 points and 11 rebounds, playing relentless defense to keep the Mavericks' stars in check.
The Celtics, who ended the regular season with the NBA’s best record at 64-18, carried their dominance into the playoffs, highlighted by a franchise-record 10-game postseason win streak.
In the first round, the Celtics dispatched the Miami Heat 4-1, avenging their loss in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals rematch.
Boston then routed the Cleveland Cavaliers 4-1, securing their third consecutive conference finals appearance, a feat last achieved during their five-year run between 1984-1988.
Typically, the road to the Finals becomes more challenging, but for Boston, it was different. The Celtics swept the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals and needed only five games to close out the Mavericks in the Finals.
After losing to the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 Finals and being upset in the Eastern Conference Finals by the Miami Heat last year, the Celtics made significant offseason moves to build a formidable lineup.
Multiple-time All-Stars Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis (formerly a Maverick) were acquired via trade, with Porziņģis' return from injury providing a significant boost for Boston.
They were joined by overqualified role-player Derrick White, but it was Tatum and Brown who made the crucial difference.
Tatum told ABC following the championship win that the Celtics remained focused despite mounting pressure going into Game 5.
“We have a resilient group, we’ve been through a lot as a team over these last couple of years, over my seven years. What are they going to say now?” Tatum said.
This story has been updated with additional information.
CNN’s Samuel Joseph contributed to this report.