NBA Finals: the Celtics hit the Warriors home

The boston celtics they won this Thursday 120-108 at the house of the Golden State Warriors in the first game of the Finals of the NBA thanks to an astonishing fourth-quarter comeback led by Al Horford.

From the hand of a stellar Stephen Curry (34 points), the Warriors had a 12-point lead entering the fourth quarter when they collapsed and allowed the Celtics to overwhelm them with a 17-0 streak before the astonished public of the Chase Center of San Francisco (California).

On the eve of his 36th birthday, Al Horford debuted in the Finals with 26 points and six three-pointers that made up for a discreet night for Boston star Jayson Tatum, who had 12 points (3/17 on field goals) and 13 assists. “It’s been a lot of fun,” said Horford, who went 9-for-12 from the field and also had six rebounds, three assists and a steal. “It wasn’t our best game, but we kept fighting and found different ways to get this victory.”


Al Horford went straight for the basket. (AFP)

the big game

No team in history had ever won a Finals game by more than 10 points after entering the fourth quarter trailing by double figures. The comeback capped an exciting start to the fight for the ring between the two best teams in the Playoffs, which combined for a total of 40 3-pointers, a record for a Finals game.

Shooting guard Jaylen Brown, with 10 of his 24 points at the start of the fourth quarter, and backup point guard Derrick White, with 21 points and 5 triples, also shone for the Celtics, who never gave up despite being at a disadvantage for much of the match.

Unstoppable Jaylen Brown in the decisive moments. (AFP)

Unstoppable Jaylen Brown in the decisive moments. (AFP)

Led by rookie coach Ime Udoka, the Celtics are vying for their first ring since 2008 and none of their players had played in a single Finals game. The Warriors, on the other hand, have the experience of fighting for the title for the sixth time in the last eight years with the same core. formed by Curry, Klay Thompson (15 points) and Draymond Green (4 points and 11 rebounds). “They played a tremendous fourth quarter, give it to them. It’s as simple as that,” Golden State coach Steve Kerr conceded.

Kerr acknowledged the Celtics' great game. (AFP)

Kerr acknowledged the Celtics’ great game. (AFP)

Hardened in a thousand battles, the leaders of the Warriors called to turn the page on this defeat, the first in ten games played at home in these playoffs, and respond strongly in the second chapter on Sunday. “This is not ideal, but I believe in who we are and how we deal with adversity,” Curry said. “We have to be honest about what went wrong, hold each other accountable and come out with another level of effort and desperation to protect our home court on Sunday.”

A great Curry was not enough

Celebrating a return to the Finals after two seasons of desert traversing, Stephen Curry He entertained the Chase Center with a record first quarter. At 34 years old, the base he exploded with six 3-pointers, the most for a quarter of a Finals game, for a total of 21 points in that first quarter. Not even Marcus Smart, the Best Defensive Player of the season, was able to stop Curry’s display, who led the Warriors to three rings (2015, 2017 and 2018) without being recognized with a Finals MVP (Most Valuable Player) award. .

This is how Stephen Curry ended after a great layup (AP)

This is how Stephen Curry ended after a great layup (AP)

Resisting the bombardment and pressure from the stands, the Celtics began to adjust their fearsome defense and dominate both paints, going from being ten points down midway through the second quarter to going into halftime with a lead (56-54).

But around the locker room, the Warriors staged a third quarter as electric as those of their best times. Curry resumed his recital with fantasy triples and doubles like a layup in which he lifted the ball to the height of the top of the backboard. While Steve Kerr smiled on the local bench, Boston gritted its teeth not to be left behind after being down 15 points (72-87).

Curry had 34 points. But... (AP)

Curry had 34 points. But… (AP)

With the celebration underway at the new Chase Center came the Warriors’ unexpected debacle. Jaylen Brown lit the fuse with an opening 10 points and Al Horford nailed devastating back-to-back 3-pointers as the other side lost the Warriors and missed even free throws.

Taking advantage of their rival’s short circuit, Boston signed a devastating 40-16 run in the last quarter with which they seized the first win. “The message at the beginning of the fourth quarter was, ‘We’ve been here before. We know what it takes to overcome a deficit like that,'” Tatum explained later. “For my part, I hope I don’t shoot so badly again, but if it means we continue to win, I’ll take it.”

Tatum also did his thing. (AFP)

Tatum also did his thing. (AFP)

The party summary

Warriors 108: Stephen Curry (34 points), Klay Thompson (15), Andrew Wiggins (20), Draymond Green (4), Kevon Looney (4) (fi) Jordan Poole (9), Otto Porter Jr. (12), Andre Iguodala ( 7), Nemanja Bjelica (3).

Celtics 120: Marcus Smart (18 points), Jaylen Brown (24), Jayson Tatum (12), Al Horford (26), Robert Williams III (8) (fi) Derrick White (21), Payton Pritchard (8), Daniel Theis (3 ).

Basketball court: Chase Center (18,000 spectators).

Partials: 32-28, 22-28, 38-24, 16-40.

The program and results of the 2021-2022 NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Boston Celtics

Thursday, June 2: Warriors – Celtics 108-120
Sunday June 5: Warriors – Celtics
Wednesday, June 8: Celtics – Warriors
Friday, June 10: Celtics – Warriors
Monday June 13: Warriors – Celtics (If necessary)
Thursday June 16: Celtics – Warriors (If necessary)
​Sunday, June 19: Warriors – Celtics (If necessary)

The great comeback of the Celtics

​The best plays of the first night

best of the match

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NBA Finals: the Celtics hit the Warriors home