Three turning points for Game 5 of the NBA Finals

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) celebrates with the trophy on the podium after defeating the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden.

The Boston Celtics finally got over the hump Monday night, taking home the 18th championship in the illustrious history of their franchise with a 106-88 win over the Dallas Mavericks.

After a Game 4 pounding, the Celtics took an early lead and never trailed in Game 5, sending the Mavericks home with a 4-1 series win. Here are three turning points from Monday's Game 5.

1. Jayson Tatum takes control to end the first quarter

Boston jumped out to a big lead early in the game, but the Mavericks fought back, thanks to three-pointers off the bench by Josh Green and Dante Exum. With two minute to go, Jayson Tatum asserted himself.

Tatum had an assist, a steal and a layup in 11 seconds as the Celtics took their lead up to 10 points by the end of the quarter.

But it was truly a do-it-all game from Tatum, who finished with 31 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds, along with two steals. He constantly made the right play, driving to collapse the Mavericks defense and finding open teammates. Plus, he only committed two turnovers.

The Celtics and Tatum have gotten very close to a title in the past. In Game 5, Tatum did it all for his team, as a team player. No hero ball from Tatum; just heroics.

2. Payton Pritchard nails another deep ball

Pritchard fell out of Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla's rotations by the end of the Finals. He took only one shot and played only one minute of Game 5, but it was one of the most memorable minutes of the entire postseason.

It was a huge gut punch to the Mavericks, who had a chance to cut Boston's lead to 17 before the half. But Luka Doncic missed the free throw to complete an and-one, Al Horford got the rebound and found Pritchard and the Mavericks had to trudge to the locker room down 21.

For the series, Boston was able to get contributions from its role players that Dallas simply couldn't. Pritchard delivered two long-range buzzer-beaters. Sam Hauser delivered 11 three-pointers in 23 attempts.

Kristaps Porzingis played 16 minutes despite his injured ankle, limping his way to five points and a +8 plus/minus.

Tatum was great and Jaylen Brown won a well-deserved Finals MVP trophy. But Pritchard was symbolic of the incredible teamwork and depth that propelled the 2023-24 Celtics to the title.

3. Derrick White blocks Dereck Lively II

Late in the second quarter, the Mavericks' Dereck Lively II landed on Derrick White as he was scrambling for a loose ball. White took his revenge in the fourth quarter when the 6-foot-4 White stuffed the 7-foot-1 Lively at the rim.

White's teeth were seriously knocked around when he dove for that loose ball, but he delighted his teammates and the crowd without leaving the game. Boston closed the half on a 15-7 run.

You wouldn't have noticed White was hurt from the way he continued to throw himself in front of bigger players on defense. But his play was emblematic of a Celtics defensive effort that simply never waned.

When Boston's shots stopped falling in the third quarter, Dallas had a chance to get back in the game. But while the Celtics only put up 15 points in the period, the Mavericks were only able to score 18.

Even when a giant center like Lively had what appeared to be an easy put back, White didn't give up. This was the moment the Mavericks' shoulders collectively sagged and they seemed to realize it was all over.

From 4:05 left in the third quarter to the 8:50 mark of the fourth, Dallas scored just three points. For a stretch of over nine minutes spanning the third and fourth quarters, Dallas didn't get a made field goal from anyone besides Luka Doncic.

Despite Boston going scoreless for almost five minutes, they only lost two points off their lead.

And after Kristaps Porzingis broke the scoring drought with a dunk, the next points came from White, making his third three-pointer.

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