Jim Davis/Globe Staff

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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.

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

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

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

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

Jim Davis/Globe Staff

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AP

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

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

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

AP

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