The Celtics defeated the Lakers to win their 17th NBA championship on June 17, 2008.

Celtics forward Kevin Garnett had some fun with teammate Gabe Pruitt during a practice a day before Game 1.

Playoff fever set in around Boston, with a giant T-shirt supporting the Celtics erected at City Hall Plaza.

Los Angeles' Ronny Turiaf faced off with Boston's Leon Powe during Game 1.

Celtics forward Paul Pierce fights through the L.A. defense for 2 points in the first quarter of Game 1.

The Lakers' Kobe Bryant drives Celtics guard Sam Cassell into the floor in the second quarter of Game 1.

Season-ticket holder Marty Joyce heckles Bryant in the third quarter of Game 1.

Pierce had to be carried off the court after suffering an injury in the third quarter of Game 1.

Pierce returned to game and finished with 22 points in the Celtics' 98-88 win.

Powe slammed home two points as the Celtics moved to a 2-0 series advantage with a 108-102 win in Game 2.

James Posey and the Celtics moved west and donned their green road jerseys for Game 3.

Boston's Eddie House battled with Los Angeles' Jordan Farmar during the fourth quarter of Game 4.

Garnett howled in disgust as the final buzzer sounded an 87-81 Celtics loss in Game 3.

The Celtics bounced back in Game 4, when Ray Allen ended up on the Lakers' bench after chasing after a loose ball.

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.

House celebrated as the Celtics finalized a 97-91 win in Game 4.

Celtics head coach Doc Rivers, center, and Lakers fan Jack Nicolson both pleaded their case to referee Dick Bavetta during Game 5.

Lamar Odom (left) and Farmar jammed up Allen as he drove to the basket in the first half of Game 5.

Celtics guard Rajon Rondo went into crowd to retrieve a ball during Game 5.

Bryant and the Lakers soared to a 103-98 win in Game 5 that kept them alive in the series.

Back in Boston, about 100 Celtics fans lined up outside the Garden hoping to score tickets for Game 6.

Bill Russell greeted fellow Celtics legend Tommy Heinsohn on the floor before Game 6.

Pierce drove to the hoop against defense from Bryant in the second quarter of Game 6.

In the third quarter, Pierce sailed out of bounds but watched his shot drop.

Garnett fought for the ball with Odom, right, and Bryant during the second quarter of Game 6.

Rondo kept the ball away from Bryant during fourth-quarter action.

Rivers reacted to a play during the second quarter, before the Celtics posted a 58-35 lead at halftime.

Allen and the crowd began to celebrate as the Celtics pulled away during the fourth quarter.

Fans at the The Stadium sports bar and grill exulted as they watched the final minutes of Game 6.

House celebrated after the Celtics closed out a 131-92 win to clinch the championship.

Garnett celebrated after clinching the first championship in his career, less than a year after arriving from Minnesota.

Pierce, left, and Garnett shared a moment with Rivers in the closing minutes of the game.

Allen, left, and Posey saluted the crowd in the celebration after the game.

Pierce cemented his legendary status in Celtics history by clinching a championship for his resume.

The Celtics celebrated a championship for the first time in 22 years.

Fans flocked to the statue of Red Auerbach near Faneuil Hall after Game 6.

The Celtics gathered for an organizational photo with the trophy after Game 6.

Garnett, left, Allen, center, and Pierce led the Celtics to a championship a year after the team won just 24 games.

Two days after Game 6, Garnett and the Celtics showed off the trophy to fans during a "rolling rally."

Pierce and the Celtics won Boston's sixth pro championship since 2002.

Tens of thousands of fans turned out to celebrate with the Celtics in the streets of Boston.