Celtics – Warriors : 116-100
- Boston leads the series 2-1
After having achieved the feat of winning at least once on the Warriors floor during the first two games of the 2022 NBA Finals, the Celtics returned to their land for Game 3. And it was in an exceptional atmosphere that they won at home to regain control of the series (116-100). The Boston public had been waiting for this moment for 12 years and the fans were not disappointed. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and their teammates delivered a superb performance both offensively and defensively. They scared each other at times – always the same, namely the third quarter – but they overall dominated this meeting.
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Brown was the first to start the hostilities by registering 17 of his 27 points in the first quarter. Aggressive, he provoked Draymond Green on several occasions, thus preventing him from having his usual performance in defense. And it was under his leadership that the Celtics quickly took the lead to lead by 11 points following 12 minutes. A gap that widened in the second quarter, once more controlled by the Massachusetts franchise. Ime Udoka’s players were euphoric. Their constant penetrations towards their circle allowed them to get into rhythm and then prove to be dexterous at three-pointers. They even counted up to 17 points in advance before cashing an 8-0. But at the break, Boston still led by 12 points (68-56).
Curry had yet replaced the Warriors
It might have been worse for Golden State. The Warriors got away with the address of a found Klay Thompson (25 points). Because with 57% success for the Celtics in the first half, the bill might be much heavier. But Steve Kerr’s men did not panic. They came back much stronger and much more applied in defense when they returned from the locker room. As per usual. With a sensational maestro to make a difference. Stephen Curry. As per usual. The superstar scored 15 of his 31 points in the third quarter. With long shots, four-point actions… great art. Curry even allowed his family to briefly go back in front (82-83)!
But the Californians might not hold out. Because if the Celtics are constantly picking up in the third quarter, they have mastered the fourth since the start of these finals. Much harder in defense, they took advantage of 5 very quick bullet losses from the Warriors to widen the gap once more, even bringing it to 11 points (103-92). Jayson Tatum followed Brown’s lead by constantly attacking the circle, exploiting the lack of a true defensive pivot in the opposing half. Marcus Smart did the same. They compiled 26 and 24 points respectively. With even 9 assists for Tatum. Adding Brown, the trio became the first to simultaneously finish a Finals game with more than 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists since Lakers legends Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Cooper in the ’80s.
Robert Williams did a monstrous job alongside them (8 points, 10 rebounds, 4 blocks) by challenging a lot of shots and pushing the Warriors out of the paint. Tired and then even injured on an action at the end of the game, Curry had no more juice to bring his team back from the new abyss in which it plunged by lacking rigor. Steve Kerr and his assistants will have to find new adjustments to equalize during Game 4, Friday evening.
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