Boston Celtics Star Joins Michael Jordan on Historic NBA Finals List

The Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks in Game 2

Joey Linn | Jun 9, 2024

Jun 9, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) and guard Jrue Holiday (4) celebrate after game two against the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports / David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

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The Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks in Game 2 of the NBA Finals to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the series. Now just two wins away from an NBA championship, the Celtics are on the verge of finally breaking through with this group.

Some big offseason additions helped strengthen Boston’s roster, and those are paying off in a big way this postseason. Jrue Holiday was one of the players acquired by Boston this summer, and he has been fantastic so far in the NBA Finals.

With 38 points, 19 rebounds, eight assists, and zero turnovers through the first two games of this series, Holiday became the first player since Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan to reach these statistical totals to the first two games of a Finals series.

Jrue Holiday has 38 pts, 19 reb, 8 ast and 0 turnovers through Games 1 & 2 of the NBA Finals.

Last player with 38+ pts & 0 TO in G1 & 2 of the finals? Michael Jordan in 1998 via @Stathead. pic.twitter.com/RLgQemALTa
— Evan Abrams (@EvanHAbrams) June 10, 2024

This is quite the company for Holiday to join, especially when considering all of the listed stats are secondary to what he brings defensively. Always asked to take on some of the toughest defensive assignments, Holiday is relied upon heavily on that end, and has still been able to produce at a high-level on offense.

An NBA champion with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, Holiday knows what it takes to win it all, and he is trying to lean on that experience in this series to get another title.

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JOEY LINN

Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.

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