An extraordinary fourth quarter both offensively and defensively allowed the Boston Celtics to win the first game of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night in San Francisco.
Chasing 12 points after three quarters, the Celtics rallied from the three-point line while holding off the Warriors in the long minutes heading into the 40-16 final quarter.
Boston won by a score of 120-108 to take a 1-0 lead in this best-of-seven series. The next meeting will take place on Sunday, in San Francisco as well.
Steph Curry marked her return to the Finals for the first time since 2019 with six shots from outside the arc in the first quarter, but the Celtics were able to stay just 4 points behind the Warriors after 12 minutes, despite 21 points from the all-star point guard. Curry was shut out the next quarter, however, and ended the game with a game-high 34 points.
However, hitting from outside the Celtics ’arch in the fourth quarter will decide the identity of the winners. Boston made the first seven 3-point shots and regained the lead for the first time with 5 minutes left on a shot from Al Horford, who added a second consecutive long shot a few seconds later, followed by a two-point shot that ended in knocking down the Warriors.
Ultimately, the Celtics could record 17 points in a row from 100-103 to 117-103 to save themselves the win, while the Warriors missed an offensive barrage that lasted just four minutes.
Veteran Horford led the Celtics with 26 points, a career-high six shots from long range. Jalen Brown added 24 points and Derrick White was 21 when Boston survived a difficult night from all-star Jayson Tatum (12 points, 3 for 17).
Canadian Andrew Wiggins added 20 points for the Warriors in the loss.
Source: Radio-Canada
