‘An unbelievable feeling:’ Celtics celebrate first NBA title since 2008; fans take to the streets outside TD Garden - The Boston Globe (2024)

What you may have missed — 2:00 a.m.

Check out the Globe’s stories from Monday night:

• Dan Shaughnessy: A torch has been passed: Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum join the champions club and help Celtics raise Banner 18
• Celtics 106, Mavericks 88: A title, 16 years in the making: Banner 18 is secured
• Chad Finn: Al Horford is an NBA champion. Finally.
• On Basketball: Jayson Tatum — a star on his own — finally realized his NBA title dreams by embracing greatness of his teammates
• When will the Celtics hold their championship parade? Here’s what we know so far.
• ‘I’d lose all my teeth for a championship:’ Derrick White smiles through the pain after chipped tooth in Game 5
• Jaylen Brown named NBA Finals MVP after 21-point performance in Game 5
• Payton Pritchard beats the buzzer again, making longest shot in the NBA Finals in more than 25 years
• With one more rough shooting night, Kyrie Irving’s fruitless Finals return to Boston draws to a close

Grant Williams is here — 12:55 a.m.

Grant Williams is celebrating in the Celtics’ locker room.

Williams was traded last offseason to the Mavericks as part of a sign-and-trade. Dallas traded Williams to his hometown Charlotte Hornets at the trade deadline earlier this year.

Five arrested in celebrations — 12:40 a.m.

Boston Police confirmed five arrests have been made during tonight’s Celtics fan celebration. — Jeremy Fox

Kyrie Irving’s fruitless Finals return to Boston draws to a close — 12:30 a.m.

By Amin Touri

And so ends a rough return to Boston for Kyrie Irving, who through a smattering of boos, and with another awful shooting night to his name in the finale, left the floor in the final minutes of a title-clinching defeat in Game 5 of the NBA Finals Monday night.

Irving knew the reception he’d receive in Boston, five years after he bolted for Brooklyn in acrimonious fashion, and the booing never subsided. He didn’t exactly answer it with his play: he was awful through the first two games of the series, averaging 14 points on a combined 13 of 37 from the field.

He broke out of that slump with 35 points in another defeat in Game 3, and added a solid 21 points as the Mavericks dominated Game 4.

Then it all came crashing back down Monday night, as Irving shot a paltry 5 of 16 as Boston put Dallas away.

“Failing at this stage definitely sucks,” Irving said. “It’s a bitter feeling.

“Basketball is a game of centimeters, man. When the ball’s flying out of your hand, sometimes it’s going to feel good, sometimes it isn’t, and that’s the maturity aspect, you have to be able to move onto the next thing.”

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Al Horford: ‘I don’t think it’s sunk in yet’ — 12:15 a.m.

“I’m so grateful. I know I’ve said it before, but it’s glory to the Lord for putting me in this position. It’s been a lot of years,” Al Horford said after the game.

“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. I’m going through the emotions right now, but I don’t feel like it’s over. This is an unbelievable feeling. Yeah, the confetti, everything is going on, but it just hasn’t hit me yet.”

Derrick White and his chipped tooth are celebrating — 12:00 a.m.

By Brendan Kurie

Derrick White is only 29, so he’s not quite long in the tooth yet.

But the 6-foot-4-inch veteran’s teeth took center stage late in the second quarter of Game 5 of the NBA Finals when the Celtics guard had two teeth knocked loose, and one chipped, while diving for a loose ball.

With 2:30 left in the second quarter, White was diving for a loose ball when the Mavericks’ Dereck Lively II rolled onto his head, flattening White’s face against the TD Garden parquet. While the ball scooted to Al Horford, who found Jaylen Brown for a fastbreak layup, White was left bleeding from the mouth.

White was asked about the play after the game:

“Dove for the ball. [Dereck] Lively landed on me. I knew right away,” he said. “I’ve chipped it in the past, so it’s not new. But, like, I mean, this tooth is loose. The other two teeth are wiggling. They were trying stuff in the locker room. I was like, I don’t care. Just play.”

Deuce is lovin’ it — 11:55 p.m.

‘This is insane:’ Dispatches from Causeway Street — 11:50 p.m.

As some fans began to exit the Garden, others stayed glued to the ground. Mark Duggan gazed at the court, showing no desire for the chaos of nearby Causeway Street.

“It’s incredible,” said Duggan, 53. “I’m so proud to be a Boston Celtics fan since I was a kid. It’s really just amazing.”

Duggan’s friend, Jason, jumped up beside him.

“He’s getting married on Friday, and I’m his best man,” said Jason, gripping Duggan’s shoulder. “This is his bachelor party.”

As fans pushed past, both men made their way down to the court for a photo. Is there any place, better than the Garden, for a bachelor party?

“Absolutely not,” said Duggan. “This is insane.” — Lila Hempel-Edgers

Spotted on the court — 11:49 p.m.

Dan Shaughnessy is doing a television interview with Ch. 7′s Morey Hershgordon. Joining him? Former Globe columnist Jackie MacMullan ... and Donnie Wahlberg. — Katie McInerney

POTUS weighs in — 11:45 p.m.

Turns out President Biden is a basketball fan.

Tatum with the trophy — 11:41 p.m.

📸 The best photos from the party — 11:30 p.m.

The celebration continues on the court — 11:21 p.m.

The ABC presentation has wrapped up, but no one is leaving the court. It’s completely full (and covered in confetti). The players remain on the platform, with Tatum heading into the crowd with the trophy.

Jaylen Brown named Finals MVP — 11:14 pm.

By Emma Healy

The trophies keep coming for Jaylen Brown.

Brown was named the NBA Finals MVP 21-point, 8-rebound performance in Game 5, leading the Celtics to their first title since 2008 and 18th in franchise history.

“Bill Russell would be so happy,” Adam Silver said before he announced Brown’s name.

Brown was particularly excellent on both ends of the floor in the first two games, scoring 22 points in Game 1 and 21 in Game 2 along with key defensive plays in both wins. He helped locked down the interior with three blocks in the opener along with three steals, then pitched on a potentially game-saving block in the final seconds of Game 2.

It’s the second trophy for Brown this postseason, who was also named the Eastern Conference finals MVP.

“It was a full team effort,” Brown told Salters.

‘We’ve got the best fans in the world!’ — 11:12 p.m.

Joe Mazzulla shouts out the crowd as he speaks to Lisa Salters.

Team owner Wyc Grousbeck shouts out his coaching, noting Mazzulla’s “brilliance” helped get the Celtics to this point. — McInerney

Larry O’Brien Trophy being presented — 11:09 p.m.

ABC’s Lisa Salters is doing the presentation.

Big cheers for the Celtics as they take the stage, which is stationed right above the logo in between the benches.

When commissioner Adam Silver says the Celtics are NBA champions for the 18th time, the cheers get even louder. — McInerney

They’re celebrating here at the Garden — 11:02 p.m.

The smell of marijuana is wafting up to the ninth floor where the press seats are as fans continue their “Let’s Go Celtics” chants. No one has left their seat. — McInerney

Fans are jumping over the metal barricades on Friend Street and creating a massive mosh pit. — Ava Berger

Celtics win — 10:59 p.m.

Here comes the confetti.

Starters coming out — 10:57 p.m.

Seems like Joe Mazzulla is taking the Celtics’ starters out, one-by-one to give them each a standing ovation at the end of a title-winning season. Al Horford is the first; he exits to a raucous ovation with two minutes to play.

Yep, here goes Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. — Touri

Celtics 106, Mavericks 85 | 2:37, 4th

Dudes rock — 10:52 p.m.

Seems like that’s it for Dallas, as Kyrie Irving is coming out to embrace each of the Celtics and their coaching staff individually before checking out of the game with 2:38 to play. The Mavericks have pulled their starters. Banner 18 is inbound. — Touri

Celtics 102, Mavericks 78 | 4:39, 4th

Celtics take 24-point lead — 10:43 p.m.

Jayson Tatum is absolutely cooking, and Dallas might be done. He’s got 29 points, it’s a 24-point game with 4:39 to go, and you can get those duck boats fired up. — Touri

Celtics 96, Mavericks 75 | 6:39, 4th

Is this over? — 10:39 p.m.

A 3-pointer from Derrick White, an and-1 for Jayson Tatum, and it’s looking like a long way back for the Mavericks now. Tatum draws MVP chants; the Celtics lead by 22 with under eight minutes to play. — Touri

Dallas is staring down a huge deficit late — 10:34 p.m.

Kristaps Porzingis throws down a huge dunk on a dump-off from Jaylen Brown for the first bucket of the quarter, and Jason Kidd needs a timeout. A slow-paced rockfight is not what Dallas needs as it stares down a big fourth-quarter deficit — Celtics lead, 88-67, with 9:08 to play.

Celtics 86, Mavericks 67 | End of 3rd

Boston is one quarter away from an NBA title — 10:24 p.m.

The Celtics stabilized things after that Mavericks run, and they take a 19-point lead into the fourth quarter. Just 12 minutes stand between the Celtics and a title. It’s 86-67 after three. — Amin Touri

Celtics shot 7 of 24 overall in the third and 2 of 10 from 3. Time to close this. — Chad Finn

Celtics 82, Mavericks 64 | 4:05, 3rd

Dallas is chipping away at Boston’s lead — 10:15 p.m.

As Dallas’s run becomes 12-4, Joe Mazzulla wants a timeout. The Celtics’ lead has slowly been shaved down to 18 — 82-64, Boston with 4:05 to go in the third. — Amin Touri

Celtics have missed some makeable ones in this stretch. — Chad Finn

Porzingis checks back into the game as Dallas charges — 10:13 p.m.

Porzingis checks back in with 6:31 to go in the third quarter. Curious to see if the Mavericks go straight at him again. Celtics lead by 22. — Amin Touri

Since Dallas’s timeout at 9:10 of the third down 78-52, the Mavs have outscored the Celtics 10-4 over roughly 4:30. Don’t give them any hope. — Chad Finn

Celtics 78, Mavericks 52 | 9:10, 3rd

The Celtics are up by 26 early in the third quarter — 10:03 p.m.

Celtics come out of halftime cooking, as Jrue Holiday’s layup gives them 11 points less than 3 minutes into the third. Boston leads by 26, the biggest advantage of the night. Celtics 78, Mavericks 52, with 9:10 to go in the third. — Amin Touri

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have combined for 13 assists — Tatum with 9 and Brown with 4 (but feels like more). For the most part they’ve resisted trying to do this all themselves, and it’s been remarkable to watch. — Chad Finn

Celtics 67, Mavericks 46: Halftime takeaways — 9:44 p.m.

By Amin Touri

Seven things we’re seeing at the half ...

• Exactly the version of Jayson Tatum the Celtics want to see tonight: attacking downhill, finishing in the paint, distributing when the defense collapses. He’s got 16 points at the half, along with 4 rebounds and 9 assists, and came alive as a scorer with a 12-point second quarter.
• Celtics fans went nuts with the introduction of Kristaps Porzingis midway through the first quarter, but it’s pretty clear the big man isn’t moving right on the defensive end. The Mavericks immediately put him in the pick-and-roll every time down, and they generating open 3-pointer after open 3-pointer with Porzingis struggling to recover on switches. Boston is lucky that Dallas missed some of those wide-open looks. Still, Mazzulla is giving Porzingis a chance, as he played nine minutes in the first half.
• Curiously, the Mavericks went away from putting Porzingis in the pick-and-roll in favor of trying to get Sam Hauser switched onto Luka Doncic in isolation. Defending Doncic is no easy task, and the Slovenian superstar hit some pretty fallaway jumpers over Hauser contests, but Hauser otherwise held up his end of the bargain in the first half. He shot 2 of 3 from deep and came up with a big steal that led to a Jayson Tatum layup as Boston went on a momentum-shifting run to close out the first quarter.
• Very quiet first half scoring-wise for Doncic and Kyrie Irving. The most prolific scoring backcourt in NBA playoff history combined for just 9 points in the first half.
• Dallas has gotten a couple cracks at its favorite weapon, converting three alley-oops through Derrick Jones Jr., Daniel Gafford, and Dereck Lively.
• If there was one rough patch for the Celtics, it was the 8-2 run the Mavericks with the Celtics going small and Dallas dominating inside. Two layups and two dunks later, Joe Mazzulla brought Al Horford right back in.
• Payton Pritchard, again. He hits another heave to close out the half, this one from beyond half court, and the Garden went nuts. What a finish.

Celtics 67, Mavericks 46 | End of 2

Payton Pritchard! — 9:40 p.m.

Payton Pritchard pulled up from Acton on that one. — Khari Thompson

Payton Pritchard will never pay for a beer in the city of Boston again. — Adam Himmelsbach

The little guy did it again. Payton Pritchard drills one from beyond half court at the buzzer, and the Garden goes nuts. Celtics 67, Mavericks 46 at halftime. What a finish.

The Celtics got very, very hot from deep to finish off the quarter. Before that Pritchard bomb, a pull-up 3-pointer from Jayson Tatum gave him a game-high 16 points at the half, along with 4 rebounds and 9 assists, followed closely by 15 points from Jaylen Brown. Boston has done a good job of limiting Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving; they’ve combined for just 14 points in the first half. — Amin Touri

It’s getting crazy on the parquet — 9:37 p.m.

Derrick White seemed to smash his face on the floor, waved off a substitution request, and drilled a corner 3-pointer. Elsewhere, Kyrie Irving went flying into the stands and ran over the ESPN crew, then took quite a while to get back onto the floor with an assist from Mike Breen. Chaos!!! — Amin Touri

Reports from the homefront are that White was checking his teeth after he got crushed there. — Chad Finn

Celtics 50, Mavericks 39 | 3:11, 2nd

The Celtics are holding onto their lead — 9:31 p.m.

Jrue Holiday goes diving for a loose ball at halfcourt, and while he doesn’t come up with it, Luka Doncic does toss it out of bounds under pressure for a turnover. Bit of a slow patch offensively for the Celtics, who have just 4 points in the last four minutes or so, but they lead, 50-39, with 3:11 to go in the second. — Amin Touri

Watching 38-year-old Al Horford do that makes me feel like I need to reevaluate my whole life. — Katie McInerney

Celtics 48, Mavericks 39 | 4:53, 2nd

Dallas is on a run late in the second — 9:25 p.m.

Quick 8-2 run for the Mavericks, and Joe Mazzulla wants a timeout. Mazzulla wants to bury the Mavs in 3s, but Dallas has buried Boston inside instead — those 8 points came on two layups and two dunks without a big man protecting the rim for the Celtics. Boston leads, 48-39, with 4:53 to play in the second. — Amin Touri

Celtics have gone small with about 6 minutes left in the first half. Tatum, Brown, Hauser, White, and Holiday. Mazzulla wants to bury the Mavs in 3s right now.

It did not work as Mazzulla intended. Dallas is on an 8-2 run to cut it to 48-39. — Chad Finn

Honoring Tim Wakefield — 9:20 p.m.

Honored tonight as the “Hero Among Us” is the late Tim Wakefield, who died in October 2023 from cancer.

His wife, Stacey, died of a different type of cancer earlier this year.

His daughter Brianna is accepting the award on behalf of the family. — Katie McInerney

Celtics 46, Mavericks 31 | 6:56, 2nd

The Celtics are cooking midway through the second — 9:18 p.m.

And just as we say that, back-to-back buckets — including an and-1 — for Tatum, and he’s up to 11 points.

Celtics suddenly shooting the lights out from deep. After missing their first three triples, they’ve hit 6 of 11 since. Boston leads, 46-31, with 6:56 to go in the half. — Amin Touri

Jayson Tatum is having a slow scoring start — 9:13 p.m.

Tatum back to his Game 1/2 self: 6 points on 2 of 7 shooting, 4 rebounds, 7 assists with 8:27 to play in the second. — Amin Touri

It’s getting a little chippy out there — 9:10 p.m.

Things get a little chippy as PJ Washington tosses Kristaps Porzingis to the ground as the ball is brought up the court. Porzingis responds with his first bucket of the night. — Amin Touri

Celtics 28, Mavericks 18 | End of 1st

The Celtics lead after 1, and the Garden is going nuts — 9:04 p.m.

What a close to the quarter for the Celtics. They finish the opening period on a 9-0 run thanks to a couple buckets from Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, plus a big sequence from Sam Hauser, who drilled a leaning 3-pointer and came up with a steal on the other end. Celtics lead, 28-18, after one here at TD Garden. — Amin Touri

Huge Sam Hauser sequence: Drills a 3 and deflects a pass. The steal leads to a Jaylen Brown layup on the other end. — Khari Thompson

Here’s my sole first quarter, all-encompassing take: Play through Jrue and everything will be all right. — Chad Finn

Kyrie went scoreless in the first quarter. — Khari Thompson

Celtics 16, Mavericks 13 | 3:56, 1st

Porzingis is moving carefully in his first game action since Game 2 — 8:56 p.m.

Mavs have had four great looks from 3, making two, since Porzingis came in. Let’s say he is moving ... gingerly. — Chad Finn

Just one man’s opinion: Playing Porzingis does not look viable defensively. The Mavericks have put him in the pick and roll on every single possession since he checked in, and with the big man clearly not moving well, Dallas is generating open shots just about every time down. Dereck Lively’s dunk makes it 16-13, Celtics, with 3:56 to go in the first. — Amin Touri

I’d agree with that assessment. Dallas started punishing the Celtics with wide open 3s with Porzingis on the floor. — Khari Thompson

That said ... Porzingis is back out after the timeout. — Amin Touri

Don’t think it’s wise to have him on the court while Holiday, who can help cover for him more than anyone, is on the bench. — Chad Finn

Analysis: a peek at the Mavericks’ strategy — 8:55 p.m.

By Christopher L. Gasper

The Mavs are still putting Tatum in these actions offensively. They feel like they can attack him in switches if he’s guarding the 5. That’s what Luka did on that traditional 3-point play. They’re going to make JT work on both ends, a la the Celtics strategy on Luka.

Kristaps Porzingis checks in — 8:50 p.m.

An absolutely massive roar for Kristaps Porzingis as he checks into the game for the first time with 6:49 to go in the first quarter. Guess he really is available. — Amin Touri

“KP! KP! KP!” chants the crowd. — Khari Thompson

Celtics 9, Mavericks 2 | 7:26, 1st

It’s all Celtics at the first break — 8:46 p.m.

Al Horford buries a 3-pointer and draws a huge roar, plus a timeout from Jason Kidd. Celtics lead, 9-2, with 7:26 to go in the first quarter. Boston is smothering Dallas on defense so far. — Amin Touri

One of my keys coming into this one was for the Celtics to knock down a couple of 3s early. They started 0 for 3, but Horford drilled his at 7:26 to put the Celtics up 9-2 and force a Dallas timeout. — Chad Finn

Jrue Holiday is out to a hot start — 8:44 p.m.

Jrue Holiday is in attack mode. He scored the Celtics’ first 6 points. — Khari Thompson

All Jrue Holiday so far — he’s got the Celtics’ first 6 points, all on layups. Celtics are otherwise slow to get going from the floor, with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum combining to go 0 for 5 on Boston’s other shots. — Amin Touri

Here we go — 8:38 p.m.

Game 5 is underway here at the Garden. After some electric player intros and a rousing rendition of “Shipping Up to Boston,” the Celtics won the tip. — Emma Healy

Can confirm: it’s very loud at TD Garden.

Boston controls the tip, and we’re underway. No surprises: Holiday, White, Tatum, Brown, Horford starting for the hosts. We’ll see how long it takes to see Kristaps Porzingis, who is supposedly available sans restrictions this evening. — Amin Touri

Jrue Holiday scores the opening bucket off a pick and roll. Holiday set the screen, caught the ball in the paint, and laid it in. — Khari Thompson

A standing ovation for Kristaps Porzingis — 8:22 p.m.

The crowd went nuts as Kristaps Porzingis took the court a few minutes after the rest of his team. No WWE entrance this time, but the crowd was on their feet for the big man.

The Celtics are on the court for warmups — 8:15 p.m.

The fans at TD Garden went wild as the Celtics took the court. Only Kristaps Porzingis hasn’t come out of the tunnel yet.

A round of boos greeted the Mavericks as they emerged from the visitors’ tunnel.

How much would it cost to get in the Garden right now? — 8:05 p.m.

By Faith Pinnow

Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals is the hottest ticket in town.The best-of-seven series between the Celtics and the Mavericks makes its way back to Boston on Monday with fans scrambling to catch a glimpse of the sold-out matchup. But, with ticket prices soaring into four figures, admission to TD Garden might not be in everyone’s budget.

As of Monday afternoon, the average price for a Game 5 ticket was $3,978, according to TicketIQ.

The cheapest resale ticket, which guarantees entrance to the Garden and a spot in the balcony, comes with a price tag of $1,122 on Gametime.

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It’s getting crazy outside the Garden — 8:02 p.m.

Fans packed Causeway Street and the surrounding areas well before tipoff.

Shaughnessy: Margin of victory in NBA Finals doesn’t matter — 8:00 p.m.

Boston’s fabled franchise won the first three games of the series, but failed to clinch Friday in Dallas and was demolished, 122-84.

It’s generally a mistake to worry about margin of defeat in the NBA playoffs. The Celtics famously beat the Lakers, 148-114, in Game 1 of the 1985 Finals, then proceeded to lose the series in six games.

It was the other way around one year earlier when the Lakers destroyed the Bird Celtics, 137-104 in Game 3 at the Los Angeles Forum. In the moment, that was the most lopsided defeat in Celtics playoff history as LA scored 58 points on fast-break layups and transition jumpers.

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Crowd control has begun outside TD Garden — 7:45 p.m.

If you’re thinking about heading down to Causeway Street, you’re fast running out of time: Boston Police said streets around TD Garden — Causeway, and all feeder streets from Causeway to New Chardon Street — will be closed to vehicles and pedestrians after the first quarter of tonight’s game.

“There will also be no re-entry to any establishments” within that area at halftime, police wrote on social media.

We have correspondents spread throughout, inside the Garden, on Causeway and in bars, ready to capture the emotional highs and lows of Game 5, from the fans’ perspective.

Follow along live here.

Some big names in the house — 7:20 p.m.

Here’s a look at the celebrities expected to be in attendance tonight:

• Jack Harlow
• Donnie Wahlberg
• Joey McIntyre
• Maria Menounos
• Mercedes Moné
• Michael Bivins
• Camille Kostek
• Millyz
• Michael Rubin
• Drake Maye (Pats)
• Ja’Whaun Bentley (Pats)
• Brad Marchand
• Matt Grzelcyk (Bruins)
• Jim Montgomery (Bruins)

And the former Celtics who will be in attendance:

• ML Carr
• Mal Graham
• Kevin Stacom
• Jerry Sichting
• Eddie House
• Dana Barros
• Leon Powe
• Tacko Fall
• Grant Williams
• Jason Terry

Here are the highlights from Jason Kidd’s pregame availability — 7:10 p.m.

The Mavericks coach took the podium after Mazzulla.

• On what Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic have proven in scoring 1,079 points, a record for a backcourt duo in the playoffs: “They shoot the ball a lot? ... They’re good. They’re really good. That number’s incredible when you think about it, but it works. So we’re going to need to add to that point total tonight if we want to win.”
• On Dereck Lively expanding his shooting range: “Yeah I think there’s a balance, there’s communication, there’s always development with one’s individual game. It’s almost going to be a year since we had him in the Draft. ... So to be able to see where he was improved, not just in his strengths, but also in the other areas. He can shoot, he has the ability, he has a nice stroke out beyond the arc, so in due time he’s going to be one that’s probably going to shoot a lot of 3s. But for now, his strength is in the paint, offensive rebounds, the vertical game, and being able to protect the rim.”
• On the Mavericks’ success in Game 5s: “Yeah, those have been games that we’ve looked at as games that can change a series. We’ve really had success in Game 5s, and hopefully that will continue tonight.”
• On the Celtics potentially having Porzingis back: “Yeah, I think we expected him back at some point and he’s available tonight. What does it change? Just his ability to score in Game 1 and 2, we’ve got to be better, we have to make him put it on the floor where he can’t just catch and shoot. Then defensively, we have to be aware of his shot blocking. And so we’ve got to account for him when we do drive it to the paint that he’s one that can change or block shots, and we have to be better at that. In Game 1 and 2, we weren’t very good. With him on the floor, we’ll see how he moves, but nothing changes there.”
• “We’re going to fight. We put ourselves in a position in Game 4 to get a win, to keep the series going, and now we’re here in Boston. They’ve played extremely well at home, but we feel the pressure’s on them to end the series. Hopefully we can put ourselves in a position tonight to win. But as we’ve always said, it’s hard to close the door. Nothing’s given, you’ve got to earn it. Tonight, we’ve got to find a way to keep this thing going, and get back to Dallas.”
• On Luka thriving in pressure situations: “He’s a superstar. he’s one of the best players in the world. Most stars love that type of atmosphere, that type of setting, and that’s what makes them stars, they tend to bring it when their backs are against the wall.”
• On others teams that have come back from down 3-0: “I knew about the Red Sox and Yankees, but when you talk about being down 3-0, that’s the truth and those are the facts, but there’s another game to be played, so if you can just stay in the present, that can help with what you’re trying to achieve and that’s to keep the series going. We did that in Game 4, and now here on the road, that’s what we have to do, stay in the present.”

Here are the highlights from Joe Mazzulla’s pregame press conference — 6:55 p.m.

• On his advice to young people who admire him: “Have faith, and execute what’s necessary to win Game 5.”
• On the team focusing too much on ending the series in Game 4: “I mean, it wasn’t necessarily Game 4. It was the time after Game 3 leading up to our time together yesterday. So, I think it’s just kind of getting the general temperature of the team. Kind of figuring out where we’re at. And, you know, regardless of where we are at, the series, you always have small resets like that throughout anything. So thought that was just kind of the temperature of our team and making sure we are in the proper space to be ready to execute.”

What Joe Mazzulla said about Kristaps Porzingis — 6:45 p.m.

Mazzulla spoke to reporters ahead of Game 5.

“He’s available. We expect to see him tonight,” coach Joe Mazzulla said.

Porzingis will have no minutes restrictions.

Kristaps Porzingis is available — 6:30 p.m.

The big man is available for Game 5, though it remains to be seen if he’ll play meaningful minutes. He was available in Game 4 but did not play after suffering a foot/ankle injury in Game 2.

Sullivan: Celtics clinching an NBA title at home would be a rare occurrence for local sports fans to celebrate — 6:15 p.m.

Do you remember where you were when the Red Sox broke the curse?

When Tom Brady stood under the confetti for the first of his six Patriots Super Bowls?

When Tim Thomas turned himself into a human wall and anchored a Stanley Cup for the Bruins?

Of course you do, whether it was home, out with friends, or in a local bar, you remember. You know where you were, and I know where you were not.

At Fenway Park. Or at TD Garden. Or in Gillette Stadium.

Because none of those seminal Boston championship runs finished at home. Astonishingly, as the Celtics head into a potential title-clincher Monday night against the Mavericks in Game 5 of the Finals at TD Garden, looking to add one more trophy to Boston’s stunning collection of championships since 2000, their opportunity to do so in front of their green-clad, rabid fans would make the feat particularly exceptional. Since the 2000 NFL season, when Brady and the Patriots won the franchise’s first Super Bowl in New Orleans, the Hub’s four major men’s professional teams have won a stunning 11 additional titles. Five more for the Patriots, four for the Red Sox, one apiece for the Celtics and Bruins.

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Streets around TD Garden will be closed after first quarter of Celtics game — 6:00 p.m.

Attention Boston sports fans: streets around TD Garden will be closed to vehicles and pedestrians after the first quarter of tonight’s game between the Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks.

In a traffic advisory, police said that Causeway Street and all streets off Causeway to New Chardon Street will be shut down after the first quarter of Game 5 of the NBA finals.

“There will also be no re-entry to any establishments” within that area at halftime, police wrote on social media.

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Meet Melisa Valdez, the in-arena host for Celtics games who fires up the fans — 5:45 p.m.

By Khari Thompson

Melisa Valdez always dreamed of being in the background, but her talent has put her front and center during these NBA Finals.

As the Celtics’ in-arena host, she is one of the first people fans see on the jumbotron as they file into their seats at TD Garden.

She can be seen all over the parquet floor, interviewing players, running halftime contests, and pumping up the crowd throughout the game.

“Melisa embodies what it means to be a Bostonian,” said Nicole Federico, senior vice president of marketing and content for the Celtics. “She has been instrumental to the Celtics brand by authentically connecting with our fans both locally and globally.”

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Washburn: Can Celtics cash in on second chance? — 5:30 p.m.

By Gary Washburn

Now that the embarrassment has subsided and the egg has dried, the Celtics realize they are still up three games to one in this NBA Finals. Regardless of the doubts that may have crept up from their 38-point loss in Game 4, the Celtics still control the series.

That’s the mentality they possess entering Monday night’s Game 5 at TD Garden with a second opportunity to clinch their first championship in 16 years and a chance to erase nearly a decade’s worth of disappointments and setbacks in their quest to return to basketball’s apex.

Perhaps a taste of humility was necessary. The Celtics played Game 4 as if they expected the Mavericks to fold. Not even their leaders, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, played with the necessary vigor and fortitude to win a closeout game on the road.

Yet, just because the Celtics are at home does not automatically equate playing better or the Mavericks succumbing to make this a neat and convenient story line. Boston will have to earn this win with perhaps its best performance of the season.

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Amin Touri can be reached at amin.touri@globe.com. Katie McInerney can be reached at katie.mcinerney@globe.com. Follow her @k8tmac. Emma can be reached at emma.healy@globe.com or on X @_EmmaHealy_. Chad Finn can be reached at chad.finn@globe.com. Follow him @GlobeChadFinn. Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach. Khari Thompson can be reached at khari.thompson@globe.com. Conor Ryan can be reached at conor.ryan@globe.com.