Al Horford, son of the first Dominican to play in the NBA and the first to attend an All-Star Game, has now etched his name among NBA champions.
With the Boston Celtics’ 106-88 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the fifth game of the final series last night, Horford became the first Dominican to win a championship ring in the premier basketball league.
His contribution of nine points, nine rebounds, two assists, and a pair of three-point shots, along with his intensity, dedication, and defense, sealed the only achievement missing in his 17-year career. He previously won NCAA titles in consecutive years, 2006 and 2007.
The Highlights
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 31 points, 8 rebounds, and 11 assists. Jaylen Brown scored 21 points with 8 rebounds and 6 assists, Jrue Holiday added 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Derrick White contributed 14 points and 8 rebounds.
For the Dallas Mavericks, now 1-2 in league finals, Luka Doncic led with 28 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists. Kyrie Irving added 15 points and 9 assists, Josh Green came off the bench to score 14 points, and Derrick Jones Jr. tallied 10 points.
First Half
The first half ended with the Celtics leading 67-46. Payton Pritchard closed the half with a midcourt shot.
Tatum led the offense with 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 9 assists. Brown added 15 points and 4 rebounds, while Holiday had 11 points and 6 rebounds. The Celtics made 10 of 21 three-point attempts, committed only 2 turnovers, and amassed 28 rebounds and 17 assists.
For the Mavericks, Derrick Jones Jr. led with 10 points, while Doncic and Green each added 9 points. They made only 6 of 19 three-point attempts, committed 8 turnovers, recovered 22 rebounds, and distributed 12 assists.
Historic Triumph
The Celtics’ victory coincided with the anniversary of their previous championship, when on June 17, 2008, they defeated the Los Angeles Lakers at home for their 17th title.
In this game, the Celtics dominated the rebounds 58-45 and out-assisted the Mavericks 25-18.
Most Valuable Player
Brown was named the Most Valuable Player of the finals, averaging 20.8 points per game. He had also won the same award in the Eastern Conference Finals, where the Celtics swept the Indiana Pacers in four games.
In earlier rounds, they defeated the Miami Heat 4-1 and the Cleveland Cavaliers 4-1.