Who knows if this is it for Al Horford, who just finished his 17th year, but if it is, what a way to go out.
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Jaylen Brown was quick to tip his cap to his partner in crime Jayson Tatum after being named the Finals MVP. It could have gone to Tatum and I don't think anyone would have been surprised, but when you have two superstars who play as selflessly as they do and put the team objective ahead of individual stats, this is the result.
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Mr. Tatum you did it. The Celtics did it. And don't be surprised if we see Boston in position to win one, or multiple more. With the team they have built and the stability in the front office, this is going to be a good team for a long time.
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A life time of practice, weight room sessions, AAU games, college, and seven years in the leagueto get to this point. Understandably the emotion were flowing once Tatum came out of the game and could taste the title.
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THE BOSTON CELTICS ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE NBA FOR A RECORD SETTING 18TH TIME!!!
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After 17 years, with his dad in the stands, it was worth the wait for Al Horford.
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There was no stopping Tatum from attacking the rack even up 20 with a few minutes on the clock. This has been a long journey and that's what he talked about during the trophy celebration.
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The Celtics kept their 20 point cushion in the 2nd half thanks to their fantastic defense and their ability to create open looks down low. Porzingis had 5 points in the win, and Brown posted 21 points,8 rebounds and 6 assists on his way to the Finals MVP.
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Derrick White was Mr. Everything for the Celtics this season, leaving blood, sweat, tears and teeth on the floor on the Boston's path to the title. He was never going to win the MVP award, but he is just as valuable to this team as Brown or Tatum. He went from a D2player incollege to a starter on the best team in the NBA.
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Payton Pritchard had the play of the game, maybe the play of the Finals with a half court buzzer beater (his second of the series) to put the Celtics up 21 points heading into the halftime break.
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For the fourth time in five games, the Celtics held the Mavs to under 100 points. Both Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving had cold nights from the floor. Doncic ended the night with 28 but a lot of those came in the fourth quarter when the game was already wrapped up. Kyrie was 2/10 from the field heading into the fourth quarter and ended the night with 15 points on another tough night in front of the Boston fans that gave him hell all series.
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Tatum put the team on his back and carried them to a double digit lead in the first quarter, that lead would extend to 20+ before halftime.
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Jaylen Brown was just named Finals MVP after a fantastic series in on both ends of the floor. Him and Jayson Tatum played 107 playoffgames together before winning the NBA title, the most of any duo before winning a title. Brown gave his credit to Tatum and the rest of the team, while Tatum did the same for Brown and the rest of his teammates.
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After struggling from the field for the first two games in Boston, Jayson Tatum made sure he was going to bring it in the elimination game in front of his home crowd.
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Kristaps Porzings came back to the court after missing Game 3 and 4, and while he didn't have a huge game he gave the Celtics a big boost as the fans rallied around the Latvian giant. He had 5 points but he made his mark in Games 1 and 2.
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After 17 years, Al Horford is finally an NBA Champion. He is older than his coach, but he brings it on a nightly basis like he is fresh out of college. He had 9 points and 9 rebounds in the Game 5 win, and the guy Jayson Tatum called his favorite teammate ever now has a title as the cherry on top of his illustrious career.
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The Boston Celtics are NBA Champions for a record setting 18th time, and bring the Larry O'Brien Trophy back to the city after a 16 year absence. Jayson Tatum led his team in the close out game posting31 points, 8 rebounds and 11 assists in the Game 5 win.
While Tatum and Jaylen Brown were the stars all year long, No. 18 wouldn't have been possible without guys like Jrue Holiday who had the first six Celtics points. He was brought in a day before camp started, and became a pivotal piece of the puzzle.
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88-106
IT'S ALL OVER!!! THE BOSTON CELTICS ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE NBA FOR A RECORD18TH TIME IN FRANCHISE HISTORY!!!
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88-106
Hardy hits a mid range jumper from the elbow.
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86-106
Hardy to the line after the foul on Horford and he hits one of two FTs.
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85-106
Timeout Celtics with 2:37 to go in the fourth.
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85-106
Doncic slips it down to Washington for the lay up underneath.
Timeout Celtics with 3:10 to go.
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83-106
Irving hits a step back three ball over Horford.
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80-106
Brown to the line after the foul on Hardaway and he hits both FTs.
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80-104
Doncic with the scoop lay up off the glass.
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78-104
Tatum to the line after the foul on Kleber and he hits both FTs.
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78-102
Tatum off the dribble again and he uses the bank this time!
Timeout Dallas with 4:39 to go in the 4th quarter.
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78-100
Tatum goes into traffic and gets it to go between two defenders.
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78-98
Doncic gets the step back three ball to fall over Horford.
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75-98
Brown to the line after the foul on Hardaway and he hits both FTs.
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75-96
Tatum stops, spins and hits the fader after the friendly roll off the front of the rim.
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75-94
Irving in the corner and that one falls, but it's coming a little too late for Dallas.
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72-94
Tatum takes Lively off the dribble and gets the lay up and the foul! Ft is good.
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72-91
Doncic into the lane and he gets the open lay up to fall.
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70-91
White jacks a three with the shot clock running out and he drills it!
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70-88
Doncic finallly gets a three to fall after six misses from downtown.
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67-88
Brown with the drive and he dumps it off for Porzingis for the baseline slam!
Timeout Mavs with 9:08 to go in the 4th quarter!
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67-86
WE ARE HEADED TO THE FINAL QUARTER WITH THE CELTICS UP 19!
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67-86
Doncic gets into the paint and hits the short jumper over Hauser.
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65-86
Brown pulls up from the elbow and he hits the mid range jumper.
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65-84
Hauser with the runner off one foot and he hits it from outside the lane.
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65-82
Exum to the line after an over the back foul, and he hits one of two FTs.
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64-82
Luka drives down the lane and hangs it high off the glass.
Timeout Celtics with 4:05 to go in the third quarter.
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62-82
Tatum to the line after the foul on Hardaway and he hits both FTs.
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62-80
Doncic goes at Porzingis, gets the foul and the bucket! FT is good.
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59-80
Holiday pulls up from the elbow and hits the mid range jumper.
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59-78
Green with a three ball from the corner and he's got four of those on the night. The lead is under 20, can the Mavs keep it that way?
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56-78
Irving hits a tough turn around from outside the lane.
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54-78
Green with the offensive rebound off the Doncic miss and he puts it back up and in .
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52-78
White got the rebound off the missed FT and Holiday slashed to the rack for the lay up!
Timeout Mavs with 9:10 to go in the third quarter.
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52-76
Horford to the line after the foul on Lively and he hits one of two FTs.
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52-75
Irving to the line after the foul on Holiday, and he hits both FTs.
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50-75
Horford in the corner and he drills the three ball!
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50-72
Irving finds Gafford down low for the lay up.
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48-72
White with a step back three ball from the wingand the lead is the largest of the night!
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48-69
Holiday slips it down to Tatum on the baseline and he throws it down with two hands.
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48-67
Doncic starts the quarter off with a mid range jumper from inside the paint.
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46-67
WE ARE BACK FOR THE FINAL TWO QUARTER FROM BOSTON!!
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Payton Pritchard has parking lot range. When he's in the building you have to have an eye on him. He hits a half court buzzer beater for the second time in this series to send the Celtics up 21 heading into the final half.
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These are the plays that Boston has been making all night, all series, all postseason and all year. White hits the deck, sacrificing his body, his mouth and maybe some teeth to get an open bucket on the other end.
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Tatum knows this is his moment, and he is delivering. He's got 16 points, 4 rebounds and 9 assists through the first half. It's going to be splitting hairs when it comes to who the MVP is of the FInals, but we still have 24 minutes to go from Boston. Him and Brown have to take care of business.
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The Celtics got hot from downtown in the second quarter, and they landed what might be the knock out blow. Brown has 15, 4 and 2 assists through a half.
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Jayson Tatum knows this is his time to shine. After a couple sub par shooting nights in Boston in Games 1 and 2 but tonight he is stepping up and carrying his team.
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He's older than his coach, but he's still playing with the same energy as a rookie. It would be a perfect end for Al Horford and he's got 5 points tonight, and hasbeen putting in the work on the defensive end.
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We said the other guys were going to have to step up for the Mavs tonight, and they have. The role players have 32 of the 46 first half points but it's been far from enough on a night where the Dallas duo have been off.
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Holiday got the night started off on the right foot for Boston. He hit the first three buckets of the game for the C's.
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46-67
WE ARE HEADED TO HALFTIME WITH THE CELTICS ALL OVER THE MAVS WITH TWO QUARTERS TO GO!!!
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46-67
PRITCHARD WITH THE HALFCOURT BUZZER BEATER FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THIS SERIES!!!!
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46-64
Doncic gets the runner to fall and the foul on Tatum. FT is no good.
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Tatum jacks a three ball off the dribble and the lead is 20!
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44-61
Brown to the line after the foul on Doncic and he hits one of two FTs.
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44-60
Luka with a baseline drive and he gets the lay up to fall.
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42-60
Brown finds White in the corner and he drills the three ball to stretch the lead to 18 points, the largest of the night.
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42-57
Tatum with the drive and kick out to Tatum who strokes the three ball from the wing!
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42-54
Green in the corner and he drills a much needed three ball!
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39-54
White with the hustle play, diving on the floor and that leads to a Brown lay up on the break!
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39-52
Holiday got the feed on the baseline from Tatum and he puts it up and in before the defense could get there.
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39-50
Timeout Mavs with 3:11 to go in the first half.
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39-50
Horford puts it on the deckand goes right at Gafford for the layup.
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39-48
Washington finds Jones streaking to the rack and he gets a tough lay up to go.
Timeout Celtics with under 5:00 to go in the first half.
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37-48
Washington blows past Holiday and lays it up in traffic.
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35-48
Tatum off the dribble and lays it up off the glass. He's got 13 on the night.
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35-46
Irving on the drive down the lane and he dumps it off for Gafford for the slam.
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33-46
Washington lobs it up for Gafford who throws down the alley oop.
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31-46
Doncic at the line after the timeout and misses both FTs.
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31-46
Luka to the line after the foul on Tatum and he'll be at the line after a timeout with 6:56 to go in the first half.
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31-46
Tatum going to the rack and he get the lay up to go and the foul on Kleber! FT is good.
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31-43
Jones to the line after the foul on Brown and he hits one of two FTs.
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30-43
Tatum backing down Kleber and he goes to the rim for the lay up over him and Lively.
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30-41
Jones rattles home a three ball from the corner and the Mavs role players are stepping up here tonight, but the stars are yet to be seen.
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27-41
Holiday answers back with a three ball from the wing over Kleber!
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27-38
Irving steps into a triple and drills it from the top of the key!
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24-38
Tatum to the line after the foul on Irving and he hits both FTs.
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24-36
Pick and roll from Doncic to Kleber who lays it up and in with the shot clock winding down.
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22-36
Porzingis with Kyrie on him and he just lofts it up over him in the paint.
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22-34
Tatum finds Brown in the corner and he drills the three ball!!!
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22-31
Tough finger roll from Irving who was falling away from the basket and still got it to go.
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20-31
Hauser drills his second three ball of the night, this one from the wing!
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20-28
Jones takes Brown off the dribble and gets a lay up to fall.
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18-28
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER!!!
The Celtics pulled away with a late 9-0 run and have a double digit lead. Holiday and Brown have 6, White has 5 and Tatum has 4.
Doncic has 5, Kyrie has 0 but it's been the Mavs bench coming through early on with 11 points.
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18-28
Tatum picks off Washington and he takes it all the way for the steal and the score!
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18-26
Hauser comes up with a steal and that leads to a lay up on the other end for Brown.
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18-24
Hauser got it off the handoff from Holiday and he strings the three ball!
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18-21
Holiday dumps it off to Brown slashing down the lane for the jam!
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18-19
Exum was dared to shoot it and he drills the three ball from the top of the key!
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15-19
Tatum chases down the loose rebound and drives on Green for the lay up from the left side.
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15-17
Porzingis to the line after the foul on Green and he hits one of two FTs.
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15-16
Doncic fades away and hits the jumper over Hauser.
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13-16
Irving lobs it up from the baseline and he finds Lively for the alley oop slam!
Timeout BOS with 3:56 to go in the first quarter.
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11-16
White has the ball fall to him off the jump ball and he strokes the three ball!
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11-13
Doncic behind the back and he finds Green for a second straight three from the top of the key!
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8-13
Luka kicks it out to Green at the top of the key and he strings the three ball.
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5-13
Brown on the euro step and gets the off balanced runner to fall.
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5-11
White to the line after the foul on Irving and he hits both FTs.
Porzingis has just checked into the game!
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5-9
Luke gets Horford in the air down in the paint and gets the contact and the bucket! FT is good.
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2-9
Horford steps into a three ball at the top of the key and Gafford was late getting out!
Timeout Mavs with 7:26 to go in the 1st quarter.
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2-6
Holiday strips Irving on one end and then White got it back to him on the break for the lay up. He's got all 6 Celtics points.
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2-4
Doncic over the top and Jones was slashing to the rack for the alley oop!
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0-4
Tatum found Holiday in the middle of he lane and he drops a finger roll in over Gafford.
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0-2
Holiday starts us off with a drive down the middle of the lane and a lay up over the defense.
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0-0
GAME 5 IS UNDERWAY FROM BOSTON!!!
Will the Celtics close out the series and win their 18th title tonight, or will the Mavs send it back to Dallas? We have 48 minutes to find out.
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The Celtics have only lost back to back games four times this season. The first five on the floor tonight are going to try to make sure that number stays at four tonight. Joe Mazzulla has gone with this starting five for almost the entire postseason, so why switch up now?It's Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Al Horford to start Game 5 from Boston.
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We have already seen four games in this series. By now we don't need any introductions to the starting fives of either team, but here they are. Luka and Kyrie are obviously going to be crucial tonight, but who else is it going to be to step up and give the Celtics hell tonight? Will it be Gafford down low? Will it be Jones slashing to the rack or will it be Washington lighting it up from downtown? The Mavs would love to see all of them pitch in and then get some love off the bench.
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Why did Kyrie Irving call the Boston Celtics “a cult”?
Cult fever in Boston says Kyrie
Kyrie knows this Boston crowd all too well. His relationship with the Celtics faithful soured after he left TD Garden after just two years. He knows what it’s like to have the fans behind you in the Garden, but he is more familiar with them being against him lately. They went after him in Games 1 and 2, and it could have had an affect on his play. He played much better in the two games in Dallas, but now he is in the place he used to call home, and just added a bit of fuel to the fire with some choice words leading up to Game 5. Our Will Gittens has more.
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How much do tickets cost for the Mavericks - Celtics NBA Finals Game 5 in Boston?
Pricey ticket to potentially watch history
Celtics fans want to see their team win the 18th title in franchise history. The sooner the better is usually the policy especially in the Finals, but I can only imagine the Boston fans are more than happy to have their team back on the home court with a chance to close out the Mavs and lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy at TD Garden. It’s a potentially historic occasion for the fans who are showing up tonight, that’s why the ticket prices are jaw droppingly expensive. Our Roddy Cons has more.
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Boston get a big boost with Porzingis
In Game 4, the Celtics were without Kristaps Porzingis, who was kept on the bench unless he was needed in “specific instances, if necessary.” There were no situations that called for the Latvian to enter the game considering the injury he suffered in Game 2. He official diagnosis is a left posterior tibialis dislocation, While people who didn’t go to med school aren’t going to know what that means, people who saw him sit in Game 3 and Game 4 know that it’s much more serious than we previously thought. He came back from injury for Game 1 and exploded for 18 first half points. He showed what a problem he can be for opponents, creating mismatches on the offensive end and making big plays on the defensive end. It appears the Celtics will havePorzingis tonight, but how much he plays remains to be seen.
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Tatum takes the stage
In an elimination game you expect your best players to show up and play their best. That wasn’t the case for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in Game 4. Tatum jumped out to a quick start with 11 points in the first quarter, but Brown struggled for most of the night. In total they both posted a combined 25 points, and shot 7/22 from the field. Tonight, Tatum and Brown are back at home which hasn’t exactly been a fortress for Tatum in this series. He averaged 17 in the first two games and shot 12/38 even though the Celtics were able to take both games over the Mavs. Brown had been the most consistent Celtics, but his 10 points in Game 4 might have hurt his odd to win Finals MVP. With the way both have been playing in this series, and the balance there is throughout the Boston team, it might take a big performance in the close out game to determine who wins the Bill Russell Finals MVP Trophy.
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Luka's locked in
If you look at the numbers, Luka Doncic has been the best player in the floor in this series. In his first NBA Finals he is averaging 29.5 points, 8 rebound and 5.8 assists. While his assists have gone down a bit, it’s hard to point the finger at the Slovenian who has created open looks for his teammates, but the rest of the cast outside of Luka and Kyrie have struggled mightily from the field. In Game 4, the role players played their part, on both side of the ball. What is going to be the difference maker again tonight for the Mavs is the way they come out and defend. If the Dallas duo come out and set the tone on the defensive side, and everyone follows suit, the Mavs might have a chance to send this series back to Texas for another game.
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Game 4 recap
Dallas knew it was now or never in Game 4. They came out and played like we expected them to play in the first game from Dallas last week. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving came out and carried their team like we have expected them to do all series. Dallas jumped out to a 13 point first quarter lead just like they did in Game 3, but this time they didn’t allow Boston back in the game. There was a noticeable difference in the defense for Dallas and that allowed them to extend the lead to 26 at halftime. Jayson Tatum had 11 points in the first quarter, but was held to just four points for the rest of the game, and he was the Celtics top scorer. Kyrie and Luka continued to pour it on in the third quarter, as the pair combined for 50 total points in three quarters. With the game well in the hands of the Mavs, both coaches took their starters out for the final 12 minutes as each team started to set their sights on tonight’s Game 5.
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We are live from Boston
Hello everyone and welcome to Boston where the Celtics have a second chance to close out the series and hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy for the 18th time in their history. It would be a record breaking landmark in the league, but the Celtics are on the heels of one of the biggest beatings at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks in Game 4. Dallas looked dead in the dirt after the first three games, as Boston controlled each and every facet in Games 1, 2 and 3. Facing elimination, the desperation in Dallas was more than visible the Mavs laid a whooping on the Celtics to extend their season at least for another game. Tonight the Celtics get another crack and ending the series and making history in front of their fans at TD Garden.
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Celtics vs. Mavs Game 5
The Boston Celtics are coming off of one of the biggest beatings in NBA Finals history, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that they need just one win to be crowned champions of the NBA for a record breaking 18th time. The Dallas Mavericks kept hope alive in Game 4 and tonight they will have a chance to keep their season alive as they continue to chase a comeback from an 0-3 hole. It’s Game 5 from TD Garden and AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis from this potential close out game.
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