Celtics-Mavs takeaways: C’s win Banner 18 with masterful Game 5 win

Celtics-Mavs takeaways: C’s win Banner 18 with masterful Game 5 win originally appeared in NBC Sports Boston

BOSTON – Let the celebration begin. Finally, Banner 18 is coming to TD Garden.

The Celtics finished one of the most dominant seasons in franchise history with a Game 5 wire-to-wire victory over the Dallas Mavericks in front of their rowdy home crowd. They cruised to a 106-88 victory to seal their 18th championship, breaking their league-leading tie with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Boston celebrates its 18th title exactly 16 years after its last championship on June 17, 2008. Coincidentally, the ’08 C’s also followed up a lopsided defeat on the road with a decisive victory at home.

With Monday night’s victory, the Celtics equaled the best postseason winning percentage in franchise history (1986).

Jayson Tatum dropped a game-high 31 points in the win. Jaylen Brown scored 21 points to cap off his sensational playoff run with the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP award.

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving scored 28 and 15 points respectively in Dallas’ defeat.

Here are three takeaways from the Celtics’ championship-clinching victory as the celebrations begin in Causeway St.

Jayson Tatum silences the naysayers

Earlier this month, Tatum opened up about being “the most scrutinized player” in the playoffs. On Monday night, he calmed the critics with an undeniable performance.

Tatum helped extend the C’s lead in the first half with 16 points and nine assists. The last Celtic to score 10+ points and 9+ assists in the first half of a playoff game it was Paul Pierce in game 6 from the 2008 NBA Finals, exactly 16 years ago. O just another player have 16+ points and 9+ assists in the first half of a Finals game in the play-by-play era? LeBron James.

Tatum continued in the second half to finish with 31 points (11-24 FG), 11 assists and eight rebounds. The 26-year-old star is the first Celtics player to score 20 points, 10 assists and five rebounds in a Finals game since 1986. He is the first player of the C ever with at least 30 points and 10 assists in a Finals game, by Alex Speier of The Boston Globe.

One could argue that Tatum deserved the NBA Finals MVP award. In addition to his scoring, he changed the game with his elite play. He won’t have the hardware to show for it, but he played like an MVP in this series and made a statement at the end.

A total team effort

While Tatum was the star, the Celtics received contributions from everyone who stepped on the court in Monday’s series-deciding game.

Game 5 began with veterans Jrue Holiday and Al Horford combining for the Celtics’ first nine points to open the contest with a 9-2 run. While Holiday and Horford led the C’s offense, Tatum and Brown started 1-of-9 from the floor.

Five minutes into the first quarter, Kristaps Porzingis led the court to a thunderous ovation for the first time since suffering a leg injury in Game 2. He was exposed at times defensively, but the big man finally recovered and shot up five points (2-4 FG) with one rebound in 16 minutes.

The Finals MVP finished his excellent postseason with 21 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals. Derrick White scored 14 points and eight rebounds while showing off his all-defensive talent with two steals and a block. Sam Hauser played an exceptional 17 minutes off the bench, tallying eight points (3-7 FG), four rebounds, one assist and one steal.

Holiday finished with 15 points (7-14 FG), 11 rebounds and four assists. Horford, 38, had nine points, nine rebounds, two assists and a steal in 32 minutes.

Every active Celtic had their moment to perfectly cap off one of the greatest seasons in franchise history. And no, we didn’t forget Payton Pritchard…

Payton Pritchard gives C fans an unforgettable moment

Pritchard electrified the Garden crowd with a half-court buzzer in game 2. C’s coach Joe Mazzulla later called it “the play of the game.”

Fans were hoping for an encore when Mazzulla put Pritchard in for Game 5 with four seconds remaining in the first half, and they got their wish.

Pritchard did it again with an even deeper half-court buzzer which sent the noisy crowd into a frenzy.

Pritchard shot just 3 of 16 for the series, but his two half-court marks will forever live in Celtics lore. The play in Game 2 changed the momentum, and the play in Game 5 will be etched in the memories of those who watched Boston end its 16-year championship drought.