How ‘utility guy’ Jrue Holiday set the record straight after his breakout Game 2

It was quite the weekend for Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday. It started with him playing a fronting role in the storylines coming out of the press conferences between Games 1 and 2 of the NBA Finals, and ended with him playing a starring role in Game 2 itself Sunday night.

Let's start on Saturday. Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd drew the major headlines when he called Jaylen Brown "the best player on [the Celtics]." Many (including Jayson Tatum) were quick to point out the potential mind games Kidd might have been trying to play, driving the issue of a oft-debated topic about Brown and Tatum.

That conversation was furthered when Holiday was asked about Kidd's comments, and he seemingly picked a side. "I don’t think he’s lying,” Holiday said during an interview ahead of Celtics practice on Saturday. “I think JB has been aggressive in every single way. He’s been getting to the paint, getting to the free-throw line, and then also making plays for other people.”

Following Sunday night's game, Holiday made a point to address that comment before taking questions from reporters.

"If I could say something before we jump in. I want to address the comment that was made yesterday," Holiday began. I feel like people kind of took that out of context. I've been hearing that I prefer JB over JT and that's not what that was. I like to praise my teammates. I like to praise my teammates when they're playing well, and I feel like that's what I did my best to do."

"Both of them know how I feel about them, how I feel about them as players," he continued. "But to compare them is something that I would never do because they're two completely different players. As well as being on the same team, and the things that they have done in this organization and the things that they have done against me as an opponent, I say how they play together and how they work together is something that is sacred and something that can't be broken."

"So just to address the comment yesterday, I do not prefer one or the other. I prefer both," Holiday concluded. "Both of them are superstars, and it's being shown out here on the biggest stage in the world."

If Holiday wanted his initial answer about Brown out of the spotlight his explanation probably helped - but not nearly as much as what he did on the floor. Come Monday morning, the conversation about Holiday should be about the way he lifted the Celtics to a 105-89 win in Game 2.

In a game where Tatum and Brown struggled to make a major impact shooting the ball for most of the game, and the team as a whole struggled to shoot the three - they were 10-of-39 (25.6 percent) for the game - Holiday was the one elevating the offense.

Holiday finished with a team-high 26 points shooting 11-of-14 from the floor. He also added 11 rebounds for his second double-double of these playoffs (and first of the Finals).

On a night where Holiday referred to Tatum and Brown as superstars, he looked more like the superstar for 48 minutes. Yet, he wasn't ready to give himself that title following the game.

"I'm a utility guy. I'll do whatever. I'm here to win," Holiday said when asked after the game how he sees his own role. "I feel like they brought me here to win, and I'll do my best to do that."

"But at the end of the day, this is [Tatum and Brown's] team," Holiday continued. "I know it's probably just as much my team as theirs, but again, I feel like I talked about this before, the pressure that they have on themselves to execute and to be great is a little bit different than my pressure. And, again, I've always been honest about that and how they always handle themselves has been something that's been so honorable. So it's just, it's slightly different. They're superstars and I'm here to support."

Tatum and Brown weren't the only ones getting credit from Holiday after this one. The 33-year-old veteran was also quick to credit Payton Pritchard when asked about his key buzzer beater at the end of the third quarter.

"Well, first, I fouled Kyrie and put him on the free-throw line and I got my third foul, so Payton came in for me" Holiday recalled. "I didn't want to foul him, but I'm kind of glad that I did."

Holiday wasn't alone in dishing out the compliments. His teammates were quick to return the favor.

"Jrue has been an example of just excellence," Brown said when asked what it's been like playing with Holiday this year. "Since he's been here, his role has been different from what it was the last few years on Milwaukee, and he's been able to adapt. Not a lot of guys can do that, be versatile, play different roles and different styles and still have an effect on the game."

"He's just a hell of a player, hell of a person, great teammate. I credit the victory to him tonight. He played well," he added.

Meanwhile, Tatum was asked where the Celtics would be without Holiday. "Good thing we don't have to find out," Tatum said after taking moment to think. "We're very, very fortunate to have him and he was excellent tonight."

Holiday and the Celtics will be back on the floor on Wednesday, when this NBA Finals series shifts to Dallas. Coverage of that game starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on 98.5 The Sports Hub and the BetMGM Celtics Radio Network, leading up to an 8:30 tip.

Keep scrolling for more on the Celtics' Game 2 win...

The Boston Celtics held off a late rally by the Dallas Mavericks in the fourth quarter, to win Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Finals on Sunday night at TD Garden by a 105-98 final.

Boston led by as many as 14 points in the closing minutes, before Dallas made it a two-possession game with a late run. Celtics point guard Derrick White made a timely blocked shot to kill the run for good, and effectively put the game away.

Jrue Holiday led the Celtics in scoring with 26 points, shooting 11-for-14 from the field (78.6%). Jayson Tatum struggled again shooting the ball on offense (6-for-22, 27.3%), but finished with 12 assists and nine rebounds, just one board shy of a triple-double.

The Mavericks handily out-shot the Celtics in the first quarter, but escaped with only a three-point lead at 28-25. Dallas shot 52.4% as a team, compared to 36.8% for Boston, including 1-for-9 from three-point range.

Jaylen Brown did, however, add another highlight-reel slam dunk to his finals resume.

The shots started to fall more in the second quarter, as the C's shot 12-for-20 (60%) as a team. Point guard Jrue Holiday continued his hot shooting, ending up with 17 first-half points on 7-of-9 (77.8%) from the field.

In the third quarter, the Celtics started to pull away. At one point, they went on a 25-11 run to go up by 13 points ad 80-67. Tatum scored eight points and continued his strong passing night to get up to 10 assists.

Dallas ripped off a 7-0 run to cut the deficit back down to six with the final seconds ticking away in the third, but that's when Celtics guard Payton Pritchard woke up the whole arena. Pritchard heaved it from nearly half-court and made the Hail Mary shot, putting the C's back up by nine entering the fourth quarter at 83-74, and drawing the loudest pop of the series so far.

The Celtics pulled back away to lead by as many as 14 points in the fourth quarter, after a White steal set up a Holiday three-pointer, then White drained a triple of his own to make it 103-89 Celtics.

However, the Mavericks wouldn't go away quietly. They rattled off a 9-0 run to make it 103-98 C's with just 1:15 left in regulation, then had the ball with a chance to cut further into the deficit.

But then, White delivered a clutch blocked shot and Holiday pulled down the rebound, and Brown took it the other way to lay it in and put the Celtics back up seven with 30 seconds left. That's how the score would hold, as the Celtics take their 2-0 lead to Dallas.

Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Celtics and Mavericks takes place Wednesday night at American Airlines Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET.

Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.