Celtics win 2008 NBA Championship
The Celtics defeated the Lakers to win their 17th NBA championship on June 17, 2008.
Jim Davis/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
Celtics forward Kevin Garnett had some fun with teammate Gabe Pruitt during a practice a day before Game 1.
Jim Davis/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
Playoff fever set in around Boston, with a giant T-shirt supporting the Celtics erected at City Hall Plaza.
David L. Ryan/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
Los Angeles' Ronny Turiaf faced off with Boston's Leon Powe during Game 1.
Jim Rogash/Getty Images
| June 18, 2008
Celtics forward Paul Pierce fights through the L.A. defense for 2 points in the first quarter of Game 1.
Barry Chin/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
The Lakers' Kobe Bryant drives Celtics guard Sam Cassell into the floor in the second quarter of Game 1.
Jim Davis/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
Season-ticket holder Marty Joyce heckles Bryant in the third quarter of Game 1.
Jim Davis/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
Pierce had to be carried off the court after suffering an injury in the third quarter of Game 1.
AP
| June 18, 2008
Pierce returned to game and finished with 22 points in the Celtics' 98-88 win.
Barry Chin/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
Powe slammed home two points as the Celtics moved to a 2-0 series advantage with a 108-102 win in Game 2.
Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
James Posey and the Celtics moved west and donned their green road jerseys for Game 3.
AP
| June 18, 2008
Boston's Eddie House battled with Los Angeles' Jordan Farmar during the fourth quarter of Game 4.
Jim Davis/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
Garnett howled in disgust as the final buzzer sounded an 87-81 Celtics loss in Game 3.
Jim Davis/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
The Celtics bounced back in Game 4, when Ray Allen ended up on the Lakers' bench after chasing after a loose ball.
Jim Davis/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
P.J. Brown slammed home two points at the end of the third quarter of Game 4 as the Celtics cut the Lakers' lead in the game to two.
Globe Staff Photo
| June 18, 2008
House celebrated as the Celtics finalized a 97-91 win in Game 4.
Jim Davis/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
Celtics head coach Doc Rivers, center, and Lakers fan Jack Nicolson both pleaded their case to referee Dick Bavetta during Game 5.
Jim Davis/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
Lamar Odom (left) and Farmar jammed up Allen as he drove to the basket in the first half of Game 5.
Barry Chin/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
Celtics guard Rajon Rondo went into crowd to retrieve a ball during Game 5.
Jim Davis/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
Bryant and the Lakers soared to a 103-98 win in Game 5 that kept them alive in the series.
Jim Davis/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
Back in Boston, about 100 Celtics fans lined up outside the Garden hoping to score tickets for Game 6.
George Rizer/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
Bill Russell greeted fellow Celtics legend Tommy Heinsohn on the floor before Game 6.
Globe Staff Photo
| June 18, 2008
Pierce drove to the hoop against defense from Bryant in the second quarter of Game 6.
Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
In the third quarter, Pierce sailed out of bounds but watched his shot drop.
Jim Davis/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
Garnett fought for the ball with Odom, right, and Bryant during the second quarter of Game 6.
Barry Chin/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
Rondo kept the ball away from Bryant during fourth-quarter action.
Barry Chin/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
Rivers reacted to a play during the second quarter, before the Celtics posted a 58-35 lead at halftime.
Barry Chin/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
Allen and the crowd began to celebrate as the Celtics pulled away during the fourth quarter.
Barry Chin/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
Fans at the The Stadium sports bar and grill exulted as they watched the final minutes of Game 6.
Erik Jacobs/for the Boston Globe
| June 18, 2008
House celebrated after the Celtics closed out a 131-92 win to clinch the championship.
Elsa/Getty Images
| June 18, 2008
Garnett celebrated after clinching the first championship in his career, less than a year after arriving from Minnesota.
Barry Chin/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
Pierce, left, and Garnett shared a moment with Rivers in the closing minutes of the game.
Barry Chin/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
Allen, left, and Posey saluted the crowd in the celebration after the game.
Elsa/Getty Images
| June 18, 2008
Pierce cemented his legendary status in Celtics history by clinching a championship for his resume.
Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
The Celtics celebrated a championship for the first time in 22 years.
Jim Davis/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
Fans flocked to the statue of Red Auerbach near Faneuil Hall after Game 6.
John Bohn/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
The Celtics gathered for an organizational photo with the trophy after Game 6.
Barry Chin/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
Garnett, left, Allen, center, and Pierce led the Celtics to a championship a year after the team won just 24 games.
AP
| June 18, 2008
Two days after Game 6, Garnett and the Celtics showed off the trophy to fans during a "rolling rally."
David L. Ryan/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
Pierce and the Celtics won Boston's sixth pro championship since 2002.
Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff
| June 18, 2008
Tens of thousands of fans turned out to celebrate with the Celtics in the streets of Boston.
AP
| June 18, 2008