SAN FRANCISCO — The Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors had the highest two defenses within the NBA in the course of the common season.
So naturally, Game 1 of the NBA Finals was a shootout.
Boston made extra pictures and surprised Golden State for a 120-108 victory and 1-0 sequence lead. Despite 34 factors from Warriors star Steph Curry, the Celtics made a barrage of 3-pointers, together with their first seven of the fourth quarter.
Boston used balanced scoring — 5 gamers in double figures and three gamers with at the least 20 factors — and overcame a troublesome capturing evening from Jayson Tatum who was 3-for-17 from the sector.
Al Horford had a team-high 26 factors, Jaylen Brown added 24 and Derrick White scored 21 off the bench for the Celtics, who at the moment are 8-2 on the street within the 2022 playoffs
Game 2 is Sunday in San Francisco (8 p.m. ET, ABC).
Here are 5 key takeaways from Boston’s Game 1 win:
Huge fourth quarter for Celtics
Trailing 92-80 to begin the fourth quarter, Boston outscored Golden State 40-16 within the last 12 minutes. The Celtics made their first seven 3s of the quarter.
In the fourth, they have been 15-for-22 from the sector and 9-for-12 on 3s. Boston took a web page from Golden State’s playbook.
Horford scored 11 factors, Brown had 10 factors and Marcus Smart and White every added six.
Tatum made up for his lack of scoring (12 factors) with 13 assists.
Modern-day NBA on show
Fifteen of the primary 25 pictures in Game 1 have been 3-pointers, and 18 of Boston’s first 30 pictures have been 3s. And each groups related at a powerful fee within the first half.
Boston’s 3-point capturing was the deciding issue, making 21-for-41 from that vary. The 21 3s have been the second-most in a Finals recreation, and the 40 3s made by each groups set a Finals file.
Six Celtics made 3s, together with six by Horford, 4 by Smart, three by Payton Pritchard and two by Brown.
Curry cooks, cools off, sizzles once more, fades
Curry scored 21 of his 34 factors within the first quarter on 7-for-9 capturing, together with 6-for-8 on 3-pointers. His six 3s set a Finals file for 1 / 4, surpassing the file shared by Kenny Smith, Ray Allen and Curry (on two events).
He had too many wide-open seems and helped Golden State to a 32-28 lead after one quarter. Curry didn’t rating within the second quarter, lacking each pictures, and picked up his third foul with 53.8 seconds left within the first half.
His scoring returned within the third and he had 30 factors headed into the fourth quarter, however solely had 4 in 9 minutes.
Big third quarter for Warriors
Boston took a 56-54 lead into halftime. In the third quarter, Golden State outscored Boston 38-24 and had a 92-80 lead after three.
The Celtics shot 36.8% as they continued a playoff pattern of dangerous third quarters which have led to playoff losses.
The Warriors have been 6-for-13 on 3s, and Andrew Wiggins scored 12 of his 20 factors within the quarter.
Warriors hit the offensive boards
Kevon Looney and the Warriors labored the offensive glass to their benefit. Midway by way of the third quarter, Golden State had 11 offensive rebounds resulting in 21 factors, to only three offensive rebounds for 5 factors for Boston.
Looney had six offensive rebounds, and Draymond Green added three.
It’s powerful sufficient to beat the Warriors. Giving them further possessions doesn’t assist. Three of these offensive rebounds led to Warriors 3s, together with on their first possession. Wiggins missed a 3, Looney secured the miss and kicked out to Curry, who made a 3. Offensive boards ending with a Golden State bucket, particularly a 3, are deflating for the opponent.
Follow Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt.
This article initially appeared on USA TODAY: Celtics stun Warriors in Game 1 of NBA Finals with big rally