The Boston Celtics wasted no time in popping golden bottles of champagne as celebrations stretched into the night after becoming record-breaking NBA champions.
The Celtics now stand alone with 18 NBA titles after Monday night’s impressive 106-88 victory over the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden, a victory that sees them eclipse the 17 titles the Lakers have won.
After receiving the Larry O’Brien Trophy, the triumphant Celtics team took the party off the field and into the locker room.
There the champagne and beer started flowing for the history books. Jayson Tatum, who scored 31 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds, once again led the way for his team on their historic night.
He put down the trophy, put his champagne glasses over his eyes and started spraying his teammates to get the party started.
Jayson Tatum led the celebrations for the Boston Celtics after a historic 18th NBA title
Derrick White (left) and Kristaps Porzingis couldn’t wait to start spraying the champagne
Jaden Springer and Jrue Holiday celebrate with a gold bottle in the Celtics locker room
Kristaps Porzingis quickly followed, while teammate Sam Hauser started steadily with beer in what promised to be a long evening of celebration.
Footage also emerged on social media of Celtics fans going wild in the streets of Boston – with many of their songs aimed at Kyrie Irving.
The former Celtics man endured a miserable night and series with the Mavericks. His fifteen points on Monday evening have never caused his old team many problems.
But the night belonged to the Celtics players, who claimed the trophy for the first time since 2008.
“It means the world,” Tatum said on stage after the team received the trophy from NBA commissioner Adam Silver. ‘It’s a long time ago. And damn, I’m grateful.”
Jaylen Brown praised Tatum for his heroics that night, telling the TD Garden crowd, “I share this with my brothers and my partner in crime Jayson Tatum.”
Incredibly, Monday marked the 107th playoff game Brown and Tatum had played together — the most for any duo before winning a title.
Now an NBA champion at age 35, Celtics coach Joe Mazzula said, “There’s nothing better than representing the Celtics and being a part of history.
Neemias Queta ensured that none of his teammates stayed dry for long
Jayson Tatum arrived in the locker room with the Larry O’Brien trophy in his hands
And soon the trophy was the center of a raucous Celtics celebration on Monday night
Jaylen Brown had beer poured over his head as he watched the festivities unfold
Sam Hauser (right) holds up a beer with Tatum as the Celtics started a long celebration
“You get very few chances in life to be great and you get very few chances in life to continue the ownership and responsibility of what these banners are, and of all the great people, all the great players that have come here .
‘If you have few opportunities in life, you have to take the bull by the horns and own it. And our guys owned it.”
Derrick White, who broke a tooth on Monday before becoming an NBA champion for the first time in his life, said the team’s togetherness was a central reason in their drive for glory.
“We didn’t skip a step from start to finish,” White told ESPN’s Lisa Salters. “Just the locker room and everything, this is special.”