Jayson Tatum says the Boston Celtics' 18th NBA title is a "night I will remember for the rest of my life". (More Basketball News)
The Celtics capped a dominant season by cruising to a 106-88 victory over the Mavericks in Game 5 of the NBA finals on Monday, capturing the🎃ir first league championship s♔ince 2008.
After recording the league's best regular-season record at 64-18, Boston continued that fine form in the post-season, going 16-3 to earn their re✱cord-breaking 18th title, moving them above the Los Angeles Lakers.
After losing Game 4 on the ꧅road, the Celtics responded in style, with Tatum the standout performer, getting 31 points, 🐷eight rebounds and 11 assists.
"I mean, this is going to be a night that I will remember for the rest of my life, from the game, the ꧒celebration, these moments," Tatum said.
"Over the last couple years, we had some tough losses at home in the playoffs. We've lost the NBA championship at home in front of our fans.ꦑ We had a chance to beat Miami in Game 6 a few years ago and lost that one.
"So, to have a big win - the biggest win that you could have in front of y♔our home crowd - I felt like that was really important to go out there and do everything in my power to make sure we won this game tonight."
"It means the world," Tatum said on sta꧑ge. 🔯"It's been a long time. And I'm grateful."
Kristaps Porzingis missed Games 3 and 4 with a leg injury but managed 16 mi꧟nutes off the bench to help his team to victory in the decider.
He confirmed after the game that🧜 he would need surgery on the injury but did not want to miss out on the occasion.
"I think sꦅomething could have happened, for sure, especially compensating now on the other leg now, which I just came back from," Porzingis told ESPN.
"Th🌃ere was definitely some added risk, but I didn't care. I was like, 'I want to give eve🌞rything I can and then fix it after if I need to.'"
"Since last game, I've been thinking ... 'How can I get my body ready for next game?'.𓃲 Like, no matter how it is. And today I was like, 'I'm going to try everything possible to get out there.'
"And, man꧅, it feels great to be a champion.&🅰quot;
