Dallas Mavericks' improbable run falls short in Boston

The Dallas Mavericks' hopes for an NBA title this year came to an end Monday night in Boston.

Why it matters: The Mavericks were up against one of best NBA teams in recent years.

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• We can harbor pain, or we can find hope.

Catch up quick: The Celtics dominated the finals, only losing Game 4 in Dallas. This is their first championship in 16 years.

• The Mavericks were also hungry for their second championship after a 13-year drought, but often faced large scoring deficits against the Celtics. They lost 106-88 in Game 5 Monday night.

Reality check: Dallas overcame a lot this year. Rookie Dereck Lively II's mom died of cancer. Luka Dončić played through injuries. Kyrie Irving endured the loud boos of his former team's fans.

• But Irving and Dončić became "LuKai," one of the best pairings in the NBA.
• The Mavs took a chance on PJ Washington, Daniel Gafford and Derrick Jones Jr. this season, who took on key roles within just months of joining the team.
• They were a fifth seed and beat the Clippers, then the Thunder, then the Timberwolves — repeatedly pulling off dramatic wins.

Time to pick ourselves back up and try again next year. Photo: Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

The bottom line: A relatively young team made it to the NBA Finals, surprising many people. The Mavs have every reason to believe they can make another deep run next year.

• "Tribe, stay together no matter what. Through the ups and downs, wins and losses, success and failure. Keep your head up high," Irving wrote on X after Monday night's loss.

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