BOSTON - The Boston Celtics saw 16 years of accumulated playoff pressure lifted in one glorious instant. For the first four games of the NBA Finals, the Celtics couldn't dial in their three-point offense. But shortly before halftime of Monday's Game 5 against the Dallas Mavericks, back-up guard Payton Pritchard pulled up from behind midcourt and swished in a buzzer-beating heave. When he stepped into his latest prayer, the TD Garden crowd rose in anticipation and then roared its approval. The Celtics, certain now that the night and season belonged to them, ran away from the Mavericks with a 106-88 victory to secure their record-setting 18th championship, breaking a tie with the Lakers, their chief rival.

Source: Washington Post June 18, 2024 03:23 UTC