The Celtics whooped the Mavericks in Game 5 to win the NBA championship at TD Garden. Jayson Tatum was the bus driver. And Jaylen Brown guarded Luka Dončić, staying in front of the ball and contesting on time. Brown was also crowned Finals MVP in front of thousands of cheering supporters after the match.

With his trophy in hand, Brown said at the winner’s stage, “I share this with my brothers.”

The contest was close until the Celtics thwacked the Mavericks with an 11-3 run to close the first quarter. The damage was done by Jayson Tatum, dribbling past Josh Green on the right side for a layup and finishing on the break, as well as Brown scoring in the open court plus producing from a slot cut and Sam Houser canning a right-side triple.

Then Houser uncorked the offense in the second quarter, making a left-wing tray after setting a ghost screen for Tatum, giving Gang Green an 11-point advantage. Tatum added four field goals with no misses. Brown downed two corner 3-pointers, assisted by Tatum, when the defense sagged off the perimeter to clog the lane. The Celtics forced four Maverick turnovers by pressuring the ball handler and entry pass. And Payton Pritchard connected on a half-court shot to end the half.

On the other side, the Mavericks registered 12 of 19 baskets in the frame. Derrick Jones Jr. scored, dribbling to the basket on a broken play, swished a corner triple and tallied an acrobatic layup on the break. Daniel Gafford put in two dunks. And Kyrie Irving and Dončić combined for four of nine shots.

The Celtics led at halftime 67-46 on the scoreboard. Additionally, the group had 30 paint points, 10 on the break, seven via second chances, 11 off turnovers and 12 from the bench.

The Mavericks had 24 interior marks, two in the open court, four on extra tries, two off turnovers and 14 from the reserves.

Next, the Celtics opened the third quarter making four of five baskets by Tatum, Derrick White, Al Horford and Jrue Holiday, giving the hosts a 26-point edge, the largest of the evening.

The Mavericks answered with Irving’s turnaround jumper on the left side, Green’s transition corner 3-pointer, a freebie by Dante Exum and two shots by Dončić, slicing their deficit to 17, the closest they got the rest of the night.

The fourth quarter started with the Celtics up 86-67.

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd called a timeout early into the period as Kristaps Porziņģis’ baseline cut and dunk put the Celtics back up by 21 points. His next stoppage came as Tatum maneuvered by P.J. Washington from the top to the cup for a layup, bringing the lead to 24 marks. Inexplicably, Kidd kept Dončić and Irving in until there were two-and-a-half minutes remaining.

The Celtics won 106-88. On top of that, the crew had 42 paint points, 16 on the break, 11 via second chances, 17 off turnovers and 16 from the bench.

Boston’s double-digit scorers were Tatum (31), Brown (21), Holiday (15) and White (14).

The Mavericks had 42 interior marks, nine in the open court, six on extra tries, six off turnovers and 25 from the reserves.

Dallas’ double-digit scorers were Dončić (28), Irving (15), Green (14) and Jones (10).

At the postgame presser, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said, “It feels good” to be a champion.

The WNBA players chosen to represent the United States in Olympic competition are a supergroup that can decimate any squad in their way and should leave Paris with another gold medal.

Yet Caitlin Clark’s absence has upset people. Their ire should not be directed at the decision-makers who excluded her but rather at the league’s TV partners and editors/producers who decided what got covered throughout the years.

Clark did not attend Team USA camp because she played in the NCAA tournament. Still, had she gone, it would have been difficult to snag a spot from any top-shelf players with experience in Olympic competition or the first-timers because of her slight frame, which could allow opponents to take advantage of her on defense and her high turnover rate.

To Clark’s credit, she is the most schemed player in the league, ensuring one of her teammates is open. But because the Indiana Fever is a rebuilding outfit, its depth is weak, and many of Clark’s passes aren’t converted into baskets. If her squad didn’t have so many scoring liabilities or suspect coaching, Clark would shine brighter in the assist and field goal percentage department while already having a notable rookie campaign.

But when news of the roster dropped, it was like a grenade burst. The pundits on ESPN’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe, probably mean well, but they are so misguided that they gaslighted their expert panelist, Andraya Carter, and the WNBA with comments, “Do they want to grow the game?”

I’m glad they went there, even after Monica McNutt told SAS on his show that he could have done more to highlight the WNBA.

The problem with “Do they want to grow the game?” is that it indicates the coverage is a failure. Clark is not the W’s first superstar, nor its best currently, yet she’s treated like it by people with a large platform. If those like Smith, Sharpe and others were sincerely interested in championing women’s basketball, where were they when A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart were rookies? They were better at the time than what Clark is currently.

So how do great players like Wilson and Stewart remain behind Clark in popularity? Clark finished her collegiate career as one of the best players ever and the all-time leader in NCAA Division 1 scoring, surpassing “Pistol” Pete Maravich. Still, this is about partners and the media not understanding how sweet the product is.

I contacted First Take’s producer, Mike Foss, and ESPN’s public relations multiple times, asking on how many occasions was the WNBA or its subjects discussed on the show in 2022, 2023, and 2024. No answer was returned.

Wilson is the top player in the league; Alyssa Thomas is a quarterbacking big who has led her team to the top record in the WNBA; Stewart is the reigning MVP, and she came back from an Achilles tear in 2019; Sabrina Ionescu is a historical sniper with excellent playmaking skills; Arike Ogunbowale is a fierce scorer; Diana Taurasi is still blasting; And Brittney Griner remains a force.

Imagine how ahead the WNBA would be if a league partner or regular media highlighted those women’s professional activities correctly.

Wising up now would go a long way because growing a league takes a lot of years. For example, when the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers won the 1977 championship over the Philadelphia 76ers, TV coverage didn’t follow to the locker room for the party. The broadcast cut to a live feed of golf’s Kemper Open, per David Halberstam’s The Breaks of the Game. The NBA was 28 years old at the time.

The WNBA is in its 28th season, growing slowly but surely. Hopefully, people like Smith and Sharpe cover the W’s ladies competing in the Olympics no differently than if Clark had made the team.

Pity those who missed out on Thursday’s Commissioner’s Cup action.

The Indiana Fever got their fourth win (4-10). Jackie Young went ballistic in the second quarter of the Aces’ dub over the Mercury. And the Storm countered Arike Ogunbowale’s production with six triples and 13 points on the break in their victory.

Let’s review what happened…

Aliyah Boston returns to form + Kelsey Mitchell’s big night in the Fever’s win:

First-quarter foul trouble sat Boston down for a few minutes, but she was confident and hungry, leading her team to a victory against the Atlanta Dream. She threw her weight around setting on plus off-ball screens, powered through the post, recovered five extra possessions and protected the lane well.

Her best spurts came in the second and fourth quarter. During the former sequence, Boston nailed two free throws, made a putback, and scored on Tina Charles twice at close range on post and face-up plays. In the latter interval, she bailed out the squad after the offense fell apart, bludgeoning the square on drives and a putback to outduel Rhyne Howard.

After the game, Fever coach Christie Sides said Boston was undeniable. “She played extremely well, really physical, didn’t back down and finished great, great shots at the rim tonight.”

Boston finished with 27 points on 12 of 21 tries, with 13 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and a turnover. Ten of her points came in the fourth quarter.

And Mitchell detonated for 24 points on seven of 14 shots. She was explosive off the dribble and connected on a mid-range shot plus three trays, including fumbling up one from the left corner to end the first half. Subsequently, Mitchell scored on a broken play at close range with 45 seconds left and earned multiple trips to the line, burying six freebies.

The Las Vegas Aces go on tour, beating the Phoenix Mercury:

A’ja Wilson carried her group to start, scoring 10 of their first 12 first-quarter points by converting two mid-range and two turnaround jumpers in the paint and scoring a putback. The rest of the Aces registered zero of 11 buckets partly because Brittney Griner was causing havoc as a low help defender. Kelsey Plum logged the team’s other two points at the line, yet the squad fell behind by 16 points to end the frame.

On the other side, Diana Taurasi hit a baseline jumper in transition, flared into the lane for a layup, scored against drop coverage at the cup and canned a right-wing trifecta, totaling 10 points through 10 minutes. Sophie Cunningham chipped in with seven points on three of four attempts.

Then Jackie Young dribbled into five triples between the top of the key and left side and burst into the lane in transition, making a bucket with contact. She had 21 points in the second quarter, and the Mercury tallied 23.

In the second half, Wilson and Young combined for 30 of the Aces’ 49 points on 45% accuracy. Young’s jumper in the paint over Kahleah Copper gave the Aces a four-point edge with 46 seconds left.

Wilson had 32 points on 10 of 17 attempts, with 15 rebounds (six on offense), two assists, one steal, two blocks and three turnovers. And Young notched 34 marks on 47.8% accuracy, with eight rebounds (four on offense), four assists, one steal and three turnovers.

Seattle Storm shoot down the Wings in Dallas:

For the Wings, Arike Ogunbowale made a left-corner banger, banked in a half-court heave, and dribbled past Jewell Loyd to the cup for a left-handed layup. And Teaira McCowan and Maddy Siegrist kept the understaffed Wings in the first half, scoring off-ball and recording four fastbreak points.

But the Storm were up 48-40 at halftime, led by Loyd’s 15 points and Skylar Diggins-Smith’s dozen. Additionally, the visitors had 16 points off turnovers and two via an extra try.

Next, Ogunbowale scored 14 second-half points, making one freebie plus two mid-range shots and recording three trifectas. Kalani Brown added four of five baskets. And McCowan made three offerings at close range.

But it wasn’t enough.

Defensively, the Storm forced seven turnovers in the second half. On offense, the group supplied seven points on the break between Sami Whitcomb, Jordan Horston and Diggins-Smith. Diggins-Smith hit a floater on the baseline and another in the paint on a pick-and-roll set with Ezi Magbegor as well. And Nneka Ogwumike connected on a 3-pointer, putback, two layups and two free throws. Ogwumike’s freebies came with under two minutes left, putting the Storm ahead by nine points.

The Boston Celtics conquered the Mavericks in Game 2 of the Finals, taking a 2-0 lead. Dallas’ Luka Dončić was inexorable, and the visiting defense protected the arc. But Gang Green was overruling in the second half, and their supporters periodically chanted, “Kyrie [Irving] sucks.”

In act one, the Mavericks’ defense permitted one of nine trifectas. On offense, Dončić logged 13 digits, one assist and three turnovers. He picked on Jayson Tatum by dribbling past him to the rim and canning a turnaround jumper in his face. He also made a fader over Derrick White, swished a pull-up transition triple on the right side plus registered two freebies. His partner, Kyrie Irving, maneuvered into the square thrice and downed a long two inside the ring wing.

But Kristaps Porziņģis supplied eight points off the bench for the Celtics, backing down Maxi Kleber for a jumper, firing over Irving at mid-range, and nailing four freebies. Brown, Holiday and Horford helped him out, connecting on five of nine offerings, while Tatum was a playmaker.

The Mavericks led 28-25 through 12 minutes.

In act two, Holiday pounded the Mavericks’ interior defenses on and off the dribble. Brown got to the line, scored in transition and ripped up the baseline for a dunk.

On the Mavericks’ side, Dončić’s mid and long-range jumper produced four baskets. Derrick Jones Jr. provided seven points in the frame, cutting back door, beating the Celtics in transition and finishing the lob, set up by Dončić’ up top. The rest of the guests recorded three of 12 shots in the interval.

At halftime, the Celtics led 54-51, were up on the glass by two, and had two fewer turnovers while making 20% of hoisted 3-pointers. Furthermore, the group had 26 paint points, six on the break, two via second chances, 11 off turnovers and 12 from the bench.

The Mavericks had 26 interior marks, five in the open court, 10 on extra tries, 10 off turnovers and four from the reserves. The Mavericks missed six freebies in the first half.

In act three, Dončić lost the ball three times but tallied six points, firing from mid and long-range and setting up four teammates for six assists. Yet, Irving misfired on all three attempts because Tatum, White and Porziņģis contested his shot on time.

The hosts responded with efficient spurts from Tatum, Brown and Holiday, totaling eight of 14 baskets on drive-bys and one triple.

The fourth quarter started with the Celtics ahead 83-74.

The Celtics opened the period making seven of 15 shots. Yet in the last three-and-a-half minutes, the Mavericks sprayed nine unanswered points- Jones’ rim roll plus two freebies, Washington’s free throws and Dončić’s and-one around Horford- to cut the home lead to five points. But that was as far as they went.

In the last minute, Tatum dribbled to the cup but was rejected by Jones, with the rebound going to P.J. Washington, who took off on the break. Then White blocked Washington’s shot with 50 seconds left, two feet from the rim. Brown’s left-handed finish through the lane with Kleber on his back hip closed the curtains.

The Celtics won 105-98, snatched two more rebounds and committed five fewer turnovers. On top of that, the crew had 46 paint points, 15 on the break, 10 via second chances, 21 off turnovers and 17 from the bench.

Holiday had 26 points on eight of 14 looks, with 11 rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block. Brown totaled 21 points on 53% shooting, with four rebounds, seven assists, three steals and six turnovers. The other double-digit scorers were Tatum (18), White (18) and Porziņģis (12).

The Mavericks had 54 interior marks, seven in the open court, 13 on extra tries, 12 off turnovers and nine from the reserves. The Mavericks missed eight free throws in Game 2.

Dončić logged 32 points, making 57.1% of attempts, with 11 rebounds, 11 assists, four steals and eight turnovers. Washington had 17 marks on six of 13 shots, with seven rebounds, one assist, one block and a turnover. The other double-digit scorers were Irving (16), Gafford (13) and Jones (11).

At the postgame presser, Brown spoke on Holiday’s impact. He said, “Jrue [Holiday] has been an example of excellence…He’s just a hell of a player, hell of a person, great teammate, and I credit the victory to him tonight.”

Holiday said, “I’m a utility guy. I’ll do whatever.”

On the losing side, Dončić said his turnovers and missed free throws (4) cost the Mavericks the game.

The Mavericks hung around for 10 minutes, courtesy of Luka Dončić’s early burst of action, but the hosts doubled up their output midway through the second frame and continued to ravage them in the last two quarters at TD Garden. The guests refused to cover the arc, and their main two, Kyrie Irving and Dončić, were outperformed by Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porziņģis.

Early, Dončić was defended by Brown before the switch. He dribbled to the nail, hitting a 12-foot shot, breaking a double team to finish an acrobatic layup between four Celtics and connected on a step-back triple over his old teammate, Porziņģis.

Irving helped out, canning two mid-range jumpers on the right side, yet the rest of the Mavericks downed four of 12 baskets in the interval.

For the Celtics, Jayson Tatum was operating as an unsteady setup man, picking up three dimes and three turnovers on drives plus poor passes. The Celtics made seven of 15 trays in the period, but the tide shifted when Porziņģis checked in for Al Horford. The visitors were then overwhelmed by Gang Green as KP blocked two shots and tore up mismatches with his mid-range jumper. He also posted up Dereck Lively II and turned the corner on him to get inside for a dunk, and swished a trailing trifecta on the left side.

The Celtics closed the first quarter on a 24-7 run and led 37-20 at the end of it.

Subsequently, Brown targeted Dončić twice, dribbling left to the rim for a basket and blowing by a double team, resulting in a vicious dunk. His other two scores in the sequence were a corner banger and dunk after stripping Dončić at midcourt. Brown didn’t miss in the second quarter.

Porziņģis added three of four buckets, bringing his output to 18 points on 78% accuracy in the first half.

On the Mavericks side, making three of nine attempts to start the quarter had them behind 29 points with four minutes left until intermission. But Dončić and P.J. Washington sliced the deficit to 21 to end the half.

At the break, the Celtics were up 63-42 and ahead on the glass by eight. Additionally, the group had 22 paint points, eight in the open court, two via second chances, nine off turnovers and 24 from the bench.

The Mavericks had 24 interior marks, four in the open court, six on extra tries, six off turnovers and four from the reserves.

Next, the Mavericks came out of the break making nine of 17 shots through seven-and-a-half minutes. Irving tallied six points, including an impressive blow by Horford on the baseline. And Dončić dribbled to the cup twice past Tatum and Horford and swished two step-back triples to cut Boston’s lead to eight points. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla followed up with a timeout.

Defensively, the Celtics locked up the visitors for the rest of the quarter, allowing two points from the line and forcing eight consecutive misses. In that span, Brown had three blocks, denying Derrick Jones Jr.’s lob, then his follow-up dunk and swatting away Irving’s layup as the low help protector. And on offense, Porziņģis, Tatum, Brown and Horford scored 14 points.

The fourth quarter began with the Celtics on top 86-68.

The hosts went on a 14-7 run through nearly seven minutes. It compelled coach Jason Kidd to surrender, subbing out Dončić and Irving for Jaden Hardy and Dante Exum.

The Celtics won 107-89 and outrebounded the Mavs by four. Furthermore, the Celtics racked up 28 paint points, 10 on the break, 10 via second chances, 18 off turnovers and 32 from the bench.

Brown had 22 points on seven of 12 looks, with six rebounds, two assists, three steals, three blocks and two turnovers. Porziņģis tallied 20 marks on 62% shooting, with six boards and three denials. The other double-digit scorers were Tatum (16), White (15), Jrue Holiday (12) and Horford (10).

The Mavericks had 46 interior points, six in the open court, 16 on extra tries, 13 off turnovers and 20 from the reserves.

Dončić put up 30 points on 12 of 26 tries, with 10 rebounds, one assist, two steals and four turnovers. Washington logged 14 points on 45% accuracy, with eight boards and one dime. The other double-digit scorers were Hardy (13) and Irving (12).

Tatum handled the on-court interview. He said the team’s job was to suppress the players around Dončić. The other Mavericks made 39.6% of shots.

At the postgame presser, Porziņģis was asked about coming off the bench for the second time in his career. He said, “From day one, I came here (Boston) and said I’ll do whatever it takes to help this team win… I stepped into that role and embraced it and had a good game.”

Mazzulla was asked about the Mavericks cutting the Celtics’ lead to eight points in the third quarter. He said he was pleased with how his group handled the burst. “That’s going to happen. You’re not going to stop that. We just have to have the poise and toughness to work through it. I thought our guys did that.”