For the Boston Celtics and national player Daniel Theis, the big dream of the NBA title has burst.
The record champions of the North American professional basketball league lost the sixth final against the Golden State Warriors in their own arena 90:103 and the best-of-seven series with 2:4.
Boston missed the chance to become the sole record champion.
Dirk Nowitzki (43) remains the only German NBA champion, the Würzburger had led the Dallas Mavericks to the championship in 2011.
For the Warriors it is the seventh title and the fourth in eight years.
The San Francisco-based franchise had previously triumphed in 1947 and 1956 under the Philadelphia Warriors name, as well as in 1975, 2015, 2017 and 2018.
Stephen Curry was honored as the most valuable player (MVP) of the finals for the first time.
"I'm so proud of our group and I thank God every day for letting me play this game with such wonderful people," an emotional Curry said afterwards, "We were so far from making it.
At the start of the season, no one would have thought we would be here - except everyone who is on the pitch now.
It's unreal.”
Theis only on the bench
Theis was not used in Boston for the fourth time in a row and watched from the bench as the Warriors around top scorer Curry (34 points) used their first match point.
Boston had led 2-1 in the final but lost three games in a row and couldn't force a seventh duel.
The Celtics quickly took a 14-2 lead, but Golden State caught up and then pulled away in impressive style.
Also thanks to a 21:0 run in the second period, Curry and Co. went into the break with a 54:39.
Boston shortened again in the final phase, but the Warriors held back at the crucial moment.
The loss keeps the Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers tied at the top of the winning tally with 17 titles.
"It will hurt for a while," said Boston coach Ime Udoka: "There are a lot of guys who are very emotional at the moment."