Top 10 moments from the Boston Celtics’ 2024 championship run

Boston Celtics, NBA Championship, NBA Playoffs, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Payton Pritchard

Boston Celtics, NBA Championship, NBA Playoffs, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Payton Pritchard / Adam Glanzman/GettyImages

 

We are less than a month away from preseason Celtics basketball, but many Boston fans are still basking in the glory of the Banner 18 run. After all, the Celtics made history with one of the most dominant postseasons ever. The NBA champions were never pushed past five games in a series and went 16-3 in the playoffs.

The Celtics will open the 2024-25 season as heavy favorites to repeat their championship run, having brought back their entire core and all of their important rotational pieces. The world champs are as well-positioned for a possible back-to-back effort.

Despite the straightforward nature of their title run, the Celtics gave their fans plenty of memorable postseason moments to look back on. From superstars sinking clutch shots to role players making momentum-shifting plays, everyone on the Banner 18 roster gave the fans something to remember.

Top 10 moments from the Boston Celtics 2024 championship run

Honorable Mentions: Celtics-Heat Beef

The champs kept their cool throughout the playoffs, but they never hesitated to stick up for their teammates. Certain Celtics stuck their chests out and did so with authority.

In Game 1 of the playoffs against the Miami Heat, Jayson Tatum hit the deck hard when Caleb Martin crashed into him while going for an offensive rebound. The play seemed unnecessary and dirty, and Jaylen Brown didn’t let it slide.

Seeing Tatum get up so quickly after landing hard on his back had Celtics fans both pumped and relieved. Brown simultaneously shoved Martin aside and got in his grill, bringing the TD Garden spectators to their feet.

The Celtics-Heat rivalry remains one of the greatest in the sport, and this year’s matchup continued that trend despite a less competitive series than usual. The series also taught the rest of the NBA not to body-check Brown’s teammates.

Big Al sticks up for Jayson Tatum 

Tatum was once again the recipient of an unnecessarily dirty play in Game 4. Bam Adebayo, one of Tatum’s closest friends off the court, recklessly closed out on a JT practice jumper after a play was whistled dead. Tatum rolled his ankle on Adebayo’s foot, which left him in considerable pain.

An angry Al Horford ran to help Tatum and sent Adebayo a message by bumping him to the side. In his post-game interview, Big Al expressed how he felt about Adebayo jumping into his teammate’s landing space on a shot that didn’t even count.

“I know he’s trying to compete over there, but I was just mad,” Horford said. “I don’t want to see any of my guys get hurt or anything like that. Thankfully, JT’s fine, but it could have been bad.”

In that same Game 4 showdown, Tatum got some sweet revenge on Martin for his Game 1 antics. The All-NBA superstar put Martin on a poster with a ferocious dunk, mean-mugging and trash-talking in the direction of his victim as he walked away.

Celtics fans especially appreciated Tatum’s baptism of Martin after the insane performance Martin put together in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals to beat Boston. There was a cathartic sense of justice in Tatum’s vengeful slam over Martin, and only C’s fans truly understand why it felt that way.

These moments didn’t quite make the Top 10, but we couldn’t leave them out. Celtics vs. Heat gave fans some great on-court highlights, but the series especially reminded the basketball world of something very clear: Boston and Miami do not like each other.

10) Al Horford gets MVP chants after icing the Cavs series

Al Horford replaced Kristaps Porzingis in the starting five for most of the playoffs, and he did not miss a beat. In his 17th NBA season, the 38-year-old big man looked as young as ever – especially in Game 5 of the second round.

In a closeout game with a conference finals berth on the line, Horford finished off a vintage performance with his sixth three-pointer of the night. Big Al stole the show with 22 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, three blocks, and one epic moment to end it.

After he officially ended Cleveland’s season with a three from the top of the key, Horford let the crowd know he was fired up with an epic celebratory leap. Moments later, the beloved big man subbed out to MVP chants as he urged the crowd to get louder and louder.

Horford’s electric interaction with TD Garden may not have come in a clutch moment or after a very close win, but it was an unforgettable moment nonetheless.

This moment meant a lot for many Celtics fans, especially those with a soft spot for Horford. The Dominican veteran made history as he joined the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only player aged 37 or older to ever post at least 20 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks in a playoff game.

Horford’s chances at a spot in the Hall of Fame have risen now that he has a championship on his resume. At the very least, fans can expect Boston to retire Big Al’s jersey one day.

9) Xavier Tillman’s corner three

Xavier Tillman was responsible for the most memorable bench reaction of the Celtics’ postseason. And for good reason.

Tillman, who the Celtics acquired at last season’s trade deadline, didn’t see much action through Boston’s first three playoffs series. However, Kristaps Porzingis’ injury in Game 2 of the NBA Finals gave Tillman an opportunity that he seized to perfection.

In Game 3 against the Dallas Mavericks, Tillman came off the bench in place of KP and made an instant impact. With two minutes left in the third quarter, Tillman nailed his first and only three-point attempt of the playoffs to put the Celtics up 78-65. Tillman’s corner three sent the Boston bench into a frenzy, with Tatum leading the celebration.

Seeing Tillman sink that three must have felt like a dagger for Mavs fans, players, and coaches. Despite a late-game comeback charge, Dallas could not fight all the way back as Boston took a commanding 3-0 Finals lead.

Tilman also played fantastic defense on Luka Doncic in his 11 minutes of play, blocking Doncic twice in the paint. X-Man re-signed with the Celtics on a two-year deal, shockingly taking a minimum salary to stay with Boston.

The 25-year-old clearly values what the Celtics have done for his career, and the team clearly values his contributions as well. Real C’s fans will never forget Tillman’s epic three-pointer in Dallas.

8) Derrick White’s block on PJ Washington

Mike Breen made perhaps his best call of the playoffs with just three words: “Blocked by White!”

In one of the most pivotal sequences of the NBA Finals, Derrick White made an epic play with less than a minute to go in Game 2. With the Celtics up 103-98, PJ Washington caught a pass on a fastbreak and went up for a dunk. White met Washington at the rim with an incredible chase-down block on the 6-foot-7 forward.

White’s big block dashed any hopes of a Mavs comeback in that game, setting Boston up for their overall domination of the series. D-White averaged 16.7 points in the playoffs while shooting 45.2% from the field and 40.4% from three.

During his time with the Celtics, White has become an ultimate fan favorite in Beantown. Boston rewarded the 30-year-old point guard this summer with the largest payday of his career, re-signing White to a four-year, $125.9 million contract.

White will aim for his third-straight All-Defensive Team next season, hopefully adding to his elite two-way pedigree. Regardless of his future accomplishments, White’s Game 2 block will cement him as a Celtics legend forever.

7) Kristaps Porzingis’ epic first quarter of the NBA Finals

After missing more than a month of action with a calf strain, Porzingis returned to the court for Game 1 of the Finals in the most emphatic way imaginable. The Unicorn came off the bench and went bananas five minutes into his Finals debut.

KP scored 11 points in seven minutes, shooting 4-of-5 from the field and 1-of-2 from three. He capped off an unconscious quarter with an insane block on Josh Green, rejecting a fastbreak dunk to the tune of another amazing Mike Breen call.

“Here comes Josh Green,” Breen said. “One man to beat, but it’s a seven-footer! Who blocks it again!”

Porzingis led Boston to the largest lead ever held by a team after the first quarter of an NBA Finals Game 1. His efforts sent TD Garden into a frenzy as the Celtics ran away with the first game of the Finals as soon as Porzingis checked in.

KP kicked things off with an elbow midrange jumper before throwing down a huge slam less than two minutes later. He then hit another elbow jumper from the same spot to bring his scoring total to eight points in five minutes.

Soon after, the Latvian big man splashed a pull-up three in transition that brought every fan in the building to their feet. On the very next possession, Porzingis blocked a Kyrie Irving jumper. Less than a minute later, he followed that up with his unforgettable block on Green.

Porzingis may have missed Games 3 and 4 of the Finals with a leg injury, but Celtics fans will never forget one of the greatest first quarters in Finals history.

6) Jayson Tatum’s dagger three in overtime

In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Indiana Pacers had the Celtics on the ropes. In the final moments of regulation, some Jaylen Brown heroics brought Boston to overtime before Tatum took over and dominated.

Tatum had 10 points in OT, including a run of eight straight by himself. He ultimately buried the Pacers with a side-step three-pointer that put the Celtics up 127-123 with just 43 seconds to go.

Tatum’s dagger three finished one of the best playoff overtime performances by a player in the last decade. JT scored the most overtime points in a postseason since 2021 and tied Jamal Murray and Norman Powell for the third-most in the last ten years.

Tatum finished the contest with 36 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and three steals. In the series, he averaged 30.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 6.3 assists on 46.3% shooting.

C’s fans breathed a collective sigh of relief after Boston’s Game 1 escape. Without Tatum’s clutch three in OT, the Eastern Conference Finals could have gone much differently.

5) Jayson Tatum’s behind-the-back pass to Al Horford

For any fair-weather fan who still views Tatum as a one-dimensional scorer, this play firmly put that outdated take to rest.

In one of Boston’s highest-leverage moments of the playoffs, Tatum drew a swarm of defenders on a drive and delivered a beautiful behind-the-back dime to a wide-open Al Horford. Horford canned a corner three that cut Indiana’s Game 3 lead to 111-109 with just over a minute to go.

The most important pass of Tatum’s career kept the Celtics alive, and Boston ended up winning the game 114-111. He ended the contest with 36 points, 10 boards, eight assists, two blocks, and zero (!!) turnovers. Tatum’s signature performance all but shut the door on a potential Pacers series win.

The Celtics trailed by as much as 18 points in the game, and everyone helped fuel the comeback. However, Tatum served as Boston’s engine from start to finish. The three-time All-NBA First-Teamer activated point forward mode with one of his most complete playoff outings to date.

Horford’s huge three also marked his seventh of the night. The Tatum-Horford connection remains one of the most underrated in the NBA, and it made an emphatic appearance in Game 3. After the game, Horford praised Tatum for his leadership.

“I don’t know he got it [the pass] there,” Horford said. “He had to improvise, and he just continued to make time after time the right play. That was an unbelievable play that he made…”

Tatum’s development into one of the most well-rounded talents in the league came full circle with his electric assist. His versatile skill set and team-first mentality allowed the Celtics to run like a well-oiled machine throughout the playoffs.

JT may own the Celtics’ single-season scoring record, but his best play of the championship run came in the form of a perfect pass.

4) Jaylen Brown sinks the biggest shot of the Finals

In a Game 3 rollercoaster in Dallas, the Celtics gave up a 21-point lead. Cool as a cucumber, Brown weathered the storm with the biggest shot of the NBA Finals: A contested midrange jumper that put Boston up 102-98 with one minute to go.

This game-winner played a large role in Brown’s eventual Finals MVP, and it came in the only game of the series where the result truly felt in question during the final stretch. As they did in the ECF, the Celtics held on in a close matchup to take an insurmountable 3-0 series lead.

Brown and Tatum did what superstars do, leading the way with 61 combined points. Brown scored 30 to go with eight boards and eight dimes. JB notched 24 of his 30 points in the second half, going 10/16 from the field through the last two quarters. Brown’s second-half surge saw him go 8/10 on 2-pointers, and he led the Celtics in plus-minus that half with a +15 mark in almost 23 minutes.

Despite his primetime display on the biggest stage in basketball, Brown was not invited to Team USA at this summer’s Paris Olympics. The controversial snub made headlines, and Brown wasn’t shy about his disappointment in the decision.

From his criticism of Nike on social media to the proverbial shots he fired on his first-ever rap song with Ferg, JB has made it clear he felt disrespected this summer. He even responded to a comment on an Instagram post with a message to the rest of the league: “I want blood.”

Brown will look to shut down any remaining doubters heading into the fall. Between Brown’s absence from Team USA and Tatum’s shockingly minimized role on the squad, Boston’s superstar duo could enter next season with a serious chip on its shoulder. Team USA may have awoken an even scarier version of Boston’s two-headed beast.

3) Jrue Holiday’s game-winning steal

Jrue Holiday played hero for the Celtics in Game 3 of the ECF. Just moments after he put Boston ahead in the final minute with an and-one layup, Holiday picked Andrew Nembhard’s pocket for a game-winning steal on the road.

The two-time champ put his All-Defensive chops on full display with arguably the best defensive play of the postseason. Holiday promptly sunk two free throws before Aaron Nesmith threw up a prayer from the corner that missed, sealing a 3-0 lead for the Celtics.

Typically as cool and calm as they come, Holiday couldn’t help but show his emotions after his electric steal. The veteran point guard smiled and roared in celebration as he helped the Celtics inch closer to their eventual championship.

It took Holiday just one season to cement himself as an important part of Celtics history. After taking a back seat as Boston’s fifth option during the regular season, Holiday activated All-Star mode in the playoffs. He averaged 18.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.5 steals in the conference finals. For the entire postseason, he shot 50.3% from the field, 40.2% from three, and 95.5% from the free-throw line.

Holiday served as a primary ball handler and playmaker for the Celtics, and he put together the most efficient shooting season on corner threes in NBA history. Even so, he made his biggest mark for Boston’s title run on the defensive end.

2) Payton Pritchard’s legendary half-court buzzer-beater

One of the most memorable moments of the 2023-24 campaign came in the final game of the season – Game 5 of the Finals. Payton Pritchard had not received a single minute in the first half before Joe Mazzulla checked him into the game with just four seconds left in the second quarter.

In typical P-Rabbit fashion, the point guard heaved a half-court shot at the halftime buzzer and nailed it. Pandemonium ensued in TD Garden as fans, players, and coaches went absolutely ballistic.

The sheer ecstasy of Pritchard’s miracle shot geared fans up for the celebration of a title that seemed all but secured with the Celtics up 67-46 at the half. Most Celtics fans will remember exactly where they were when Pritchard hit that shot.

The play went viral all over social media, and it is probably the most talked-about shot of the 2024 playoffs to this day. Incredibly enough, this was not Pritchard’s first buzzer-beating heave of the series.

In Game 2, Boston’s backup point guard launched it from the logo and banked it in to end the third quarter. Pritchard’s special knack for making these types of shots has turned him into a true fan favorite. Celtics fans love Pritchard, and he certainly seems to love them back.

When it was all said and done, Pritchard left his greatest imprint on Banner 18 by scoring three points in four seconds. Truly the stuff of legends.

1) Jaylen Brown’s unforgettable game-saving three

Celtics fans likely saw this one coming, because it doesn’t get more exhilarating than this shot.

The most important shot of Brown’s career came in Game 1 of the conference finals. The reigning Finals MVP knocked down an improbable corner three with Pascal Siakam in his grill, tying the contest at 117-117 with less than six seconds to go.

On the very next play, Tatum clamped up Tyrese Haliburton and forced a bad shot to send it to overtime. Tatum eventually dominated the extra period, but none of that would have been possible without one of the most clutch shots of the postseason by any player.

Brown’s unbelievable game-saving three helped him secure Eastern Conference Finals MVP three games later. He averaged 29.8 points in what was undoubtedly the best playoff series of his career. Brown shot 51.5% from the field through four games and even had a 40-point explosion in Game 2.

One could argue Brown’s shot changed the trajectory of Boston’s title run by breaking the hearts of Indy so early in the series. Instead of heading into Indiana tied up at 1-1, the Celtics got to play with house money on the road and gave themselves plenty of rest ahead of the Finals with a rare ECF sweep.

It might be far-fetched to suggest the Celtics wouldn’t have won the championship without Brown’s three, but the road certainly would have been tougher. Fans can only imagine how different that Pacers challenge could have turned out for Boston.

In the words of a post-championship Jayson Tatum, “I guess we’ll never know.”