NBA Finals: Game 6

NBA Finals: Game 6

Damian Strohmeyer/SI

With a 131-92 rout of the Lakers in Game 6, the Celtics and their fans celebrated the franchise's first championship in 22 years.

John W. McDonough/SI

The Celtics punctuated the biggest single-season turnaround in NBA history by producing the most lopsided Finals-clinching victory ever. In dismantling the Lakers, Boston finished the postseason 13-1 at home.

Damian Strohmeyer/SI

Kevin Garnett vowed to rebound after describing his Game 5 performance as "garbage." Garnett delivered on his promise, collecting 26 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and three steals.

John W. McDonough/SI

After a decent start, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers crumbled in the second quarter. They were outscored 34-15 in the period, and things only got worse from there for the favored Western Conference champions.

Bob Rosato/SI

A year after being the leading scorer on a 24-win Celtics team, Paul Pierce was named Finals MVP after averaging 21.8 points and 6.3 assists against the Lakers.

Bob Rosato/SI

Game 6 was a microcosm of the series for Kobe Bryant, who shot 7-of-22 from the field and committed four turnovers. The Celtics limited the league's MVP to an average of 25.7 points on 40.5 percent shooting in the Finals.

Bob Rosato/SI

After struggling mightily for much of the series, the Celtics' second-year point guard, Rajon Rondo, delivered a gem in Game 6. He finished with 21 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and six of the Celtics' Finals-record 18 steals. Lakers coach Phil Jackson called Rondo the star of the game.

Bob Rosato/SI

Celtics coach Doc Rivers and captain Paul Pierce hadn't won a playoff series in three previous years together before getting past Atlanta, Cleveland, Detroit and the Lakers this season.

Bob Rosato/SI

While Paul Pierce was selected as series MVP, Ray Allen (pictured) made a pretty good case, too. His early playoff slump long behind him, Allen set a Finals record with 22 three-pointers (including a record-tying seven in the clincher) and averaged 20.3 points in the series.

Bob Rosato/SI

Kevin Garnett, a 13-year veteran, likened winning his first championship to knocking out the school bully.

John W. McDonough/SI

Glen "Big Baby" Davis got his first taste of the Finals in Game 6 as coach Doc Rivers went to the rookie forward after other big men landed in foul trouble. Davis was on the floor for a good part of the Celtics' big second-quarter surge.

Bob Rosato/SI

Doc Rivers not only won a title in his first Finals appearance but also prevented the Lakers' Phil Jackson from breaking a tie with Celtics legend Red Auerbach for most championships by a coach. Jackson and Auerbach have won nine apiece.