NBA Finals: Game 5 Notebook

No one can say that the ultimate result of Game 5 was a major shock. After Dallas threw everything they had at Boston in Game 4, it was to be expected the Celtics would throw a hard counter-punch back on their home floor in Game 5. That’s what happened, the Mavericks didn’t have a counterpunch, and the 106-88 final was never close after about midway through the second quarter. It was one long Garden party as Boston wrapped up the 2024 NBA title.

Play was often ragged, and ABC analyst Doris Burke noted that fatigue seemed to be setting in. The first quarter was rough, with the “old men” of the Celtics getting their offense going early—Jrue Holiday and Al Horford scored the first nine points. None of the stars on either side—Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum for Boston, or Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving for Dallas—did a lot on the scoring front. But you could see the Celtics’ intensity in other facets of the game. Tatum was moving the ball, with four 1Q assists. Brown was getting after the glass, with four first quarter rebounds. Luka and Kyrie were nowhere to be found, as Boston moved to a ten-point lead.

The second quarter was the decisive time when the Celtic avalanche hit. They got a three-point flurry, connecting on 7/11 from behind the arc. Sam Hauser hit a pair. Tatum scored 12 points during this quarter and added five more assists. While both offenses started to show better flow, Boston was hotter from long range, and they were also making more hustle plays, from offensive rebounds to getting on the floor. And then Peyton Pritchard delivered the coup de grace—a buzzer-beater heave from close to halfcourt. It was 67-46 at halftime. Dallas never got it to single digits in the second half, and the lead ballooned as high as 26 points.

Boston completely controlled the second half, although the scoreboard won’t show that. The Celtics missed a lot of bunny shots inside, while the Mavericks settled for threes in a futile attempt to get it all back at once. This margin could have been a lot worse. It was akin to what happened on this floor exactly 16 years ago last night, when the Celtics clinched a title by blowing out the Lakers 131-92. Had Boston’s short jumpers in the lane fallen after halftime, this margin might have gotten in that same territory.

In fact, one stat really sums up the night—the Celtics outrebounded the Mavericks by a decisive 51-35. Boston destroyed Dallas on the offensive boards, 15-7, with four of those coming from the ever-hustling Holiday. The Celtics were simply ready to put this series, and this season to bed last night. And that’s what happened.

And that’s also a wrap on our NBA playoff notebook. Thanks to everyone who joined us along the way. The summer plans for TheSportsNotebook blog are to start reviewing NFL depth charts, and then mix in another round of baseball notebooks, as we pass the All-Star break and contenders start making trades for the stretch drive. That will keep us busy in this space until football season starts.