Boston (AFP)
Super distributor Stephen Curry scored 43 points and led his Golden State Warriors team to snatch a valuable victory from the Boston Celtics 107-97, leveling it 2-2 and giving him the advantage of the ground in the NBA Final.
Golden State needed a win at TD Gardens to avoid falling 1-3 in the final series, which might span seven matches, and Corrie produced one of the best levels of his thriving career to boost his team’s hopes of winning the title for the seventh time in its history.
Doubts were swirling around the distributor’s participation, following he was hit in the foot during the loss of the third match on Wednesday.
But the 34-year-old removed all doubts regarding his ability to carry his team on his shoulders, making up for the early loss at home in this series, and the ground advantage returned to his favour, as he hosts the fifth game Monday in San Francisco.
The two-time best player in the league finished the match with 43 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists, on a night when Golden State struggled offensively once morest a solid Boston lineup.
Klay Thompson added 18 points to the winner, Canadian Andrew Wiggins added 17 points and 16 rebounds, and substitute Jordan Paul 14 points. In the loser, the two stars Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown scored 23 and 21 points, respectively, and Marcus Smart added 18 and substitute Derek White 16.
“I’m so proud of this for a group,” Corey said following the win. There’s been a lot of talk in the last 48 hours regarding the possibility of us returning in this series.
“It’s crazy because I feel we can do better. But to win away and take back the advantage of the ground is a big thing for this group. We’ve been here six times, we have a lot of experience to stay consistent and confident.
“I thank my team because we played with strength and toughness tonight. We were aware of the importance of the match. It will be a good five-and-a-half hour journey following tonight’s game,” added Curie, who won the title three times with his team in 2015, 2017, 2018, and runner-up in 2016 and 2019.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr made the bizarre decision to remove veteran Draymond Green from the battlefield in the final quarter, before bringing him back at the crucial time. Green struggled once more offensively, contenting himself with scoring two points with 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals.
Although Green stumbled offensively, Corey made up for his deadly triples (7 out of 14 attempts).
And regarding Korean’s performance, his coach, Kerr, said: “Simply wonderful.. the physical strength was present.” As you know, Boston has the strongest defense in the league.
He continued: Despite all this pressure in every ball, Steve maintained his composure and remained capable of defending. I think it’s the biggest physical strength he’s shown in his career, and it allows him to do what we saw tonight.
Boston advanced 94-90 five minutes before the end of time, before an easy basket from Wiggins and a trio of veteran Thompson restored the Warriors’ lead 95-94.
Curry widened the difference to 97-94, before stabbing the host with a devastating triple that gave his team a 100-94 lead.
Al Horford reduced the difference to Boston by three from the corner, but Kevin Looney’s basket returned the five-point difference to the Warriors. Curry cleverly attracted last-minute errors to hand his side a crucial win that brought them back into the title race.
Thompson considered that Corey’s performance on Friday was “perhaps the best” in his entire career.
“He’s one of the most resistant players I’ve played with,” said Thompson, returning this season from a terrible injury and forming with Corey hitting duo “Splash Brothers”. No matter how the opponent defends in front of him. He continues to do what he is good at.
