Jrue’s Double-Double Helps C’s Double Finals Lead Over Mavs

BOSTON – Jrue Holiday is the only member of this Celtics team who has experienced what it takes to win an NBA championship. And he will do whatever it takes to go through that experience again.

It doesn’t matter to him whether it’s scoring, facilitating, rebounding, defending, or a mixture of all the above.

“I’m a utility guy. I’ll do whatever,” Holiday said. “I’m here to win. I feel like they brought me here to win, and I’ll do my best to do that.”

Those words came to life in Game 2 of the NBA Finals Sunday night when the 15-year veteran did a little bit of everything to help guide Boston to a 105-98 win over the Dallas Mavericks.

Holiday led the team in scoring with 26 points on 11-of-14 shooting. He led the game in rebounds with a playoff career-high-tying 11 boards. He handed out three assists. And his fingerprints were all over Boston’s defensive effort of holding Dallas’ high-powered offense to fewer than 100 points for the second straight game to give the C’s a 2-0 lead in the series.

“He was unbelievable,” said teammate Al Horford. “His effort defensively and everything he brings on that end. And then on offense, making reads, making the game easy, making the right decisions. He’s so poised and you can tell that he has been in these types of moments. Just very composed and just out there getting the job done.”

Holiday went through these moments with the Milwaukee Bucks during their 2021 championship run, and it shows.

Derrick White says it’s shown ever since Holiday stepped foot into the gym last fall – in how he carries himself and how he’s been willing to sacrifice his role to help the team maximize its potential.

“That experience, that championship DNA, which you hear all about all the time, you don’t really know what it takes until you do what it takes,” White said. “Just the moment he came to our team in training camp, he kind of just had that presence about him. He just knows how to win.”

Holiday’s presence has been defined by leading with actions over words.

“I won’t say that I do much or I talk much,” he said. “I just go out there and I play as hard as I can and do whatever the team needs for us to win.”

In Games 1 and 2 of the Finals, that translated to a total of 38 points, 19 rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and zero turnovers in 75 minutes of action.

Though when he does talk, everyone listens.

“He’s brought championship pedigree to our team,” said Jaylen Brown. “So nothing Jrue says we question. Jrue, he comes in and he just is who he is. He’s got that demeanor, that killer-like mentality, and we respect it. He’s a great teammate and it’s just an honor to play next to him.”

Part of that championship pedigree includes staying grounded no matter what the series score is. After all, he was on a Bucks team that battled back from a 0-2 deficit and went on to win four straight against the Phoenix Suns.

“We know being up 2-0 means nothing,” Holiday said. “Job’s not done. We have to do whatever it takes.”

And he’s the perfect guy for the job.