Here are the scores, updates, and results of the NBA 2021-2022 Regular Season between the Golden State Warriors (GSW) and the Boston Celtics (BOS) on June 3, 2022 (All times are in Philippine Standard Time) at the Chase Center.
The Boston Celtics shocks the Golden State Warriors on their own home court and draws first blood in the NBA Finals.
Golden State was up by 12 points as they enter the fourth quarter but was not able to maintain their winning margin. As a result, they got outlasted by Boston and cost the game. Boston registered 40 big points in the last period while limiting the Warriors to only 16 points.
Both teams led by as much as 15 points during the first game of the best-of-seven series in the NBA Finals.
The Celtics were unbelievably hot beyond the three-point arc, giving the Warriors a dose of their own medicine as they splashed down nine three-pointers in that quarter alone. Overall, Boston shot 21-41 on their three-point looks.
Al Horford sparked the game-winning run for his squad mid-way in the fourth quarter at 103-103. The 35-year-old forward started off with a three-pointer off of an assist from Pritchard and then another three-point shot at the top of the key after he stole the ball from the opposing team a couple of possessions later. He then continued with a jumper near the baseline.
After a couple of plays, Horford steps up again for the team and grabs an offensive rebound. He then kicks it out to Smart for a three-pointer, extending their lead.
Throughout their outstanding run, the Warriors were scoreless. However, the big man from the Celtics was not done yet. With under a minute remaining at 119-105, when the Warriors finally scored, Brown spots Horford near the rim and passed it to him. It then converted to an and-one play where Horford also knocked down the charity stripe shot.
“I felt like the guys kept finding me time after time. Also Derrick White hit some tough shots there, too,” Horford shared. “I was just getting the looks, knocking them down. That’s that.”
The Dominican Celtic who is going to celebrate his birthday tomorrow finished the game with 26 points, and six rebounds while hitting six of his eight attempts from outside the three-point territory. Jaylen Brown added 24 points in the win.
Jayson Tatum who was phenomenal in Game seven against Miami was a bit poor in his first game in the finals. He only scored 12 points while shooting 3-17 from the field. But, to make it up, he had 13 dimes for the squad, leaving the game with a double-double.
Marcus Smart had 18 points while White, who came off from the bench, had 21 big points for Boston. White also contributed five three-pointers.
Stephen Curry had 34 points (21 in the first half) in his return to the Finals. The two-time MVP knocked down six three-pointers in the first 12 minutes of the contest. Wiggins was active on both ends for Golden State, racking up 20 points, three blocks, and a steal.
Thompson logged in 15 points on 6-14 shooting while Porter Jr. tallied 12 additional points in the losing effort.
Under Steve Kerr, the Warriors are 21-2 in their Game 1s.
“It’s a different feeling. You obviously go into Game 2 with more of a sense of desperation. That’s all part of this stuff. We’ve been in this position before,” Kerr, head coach of the Warriors, said. “Boston played a brilliant quarter. They came in and earned the win.”
The NBA Finals will resume on June 6 at 8:00 AM as we go back to the Chase Center for Game 2.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling just to be here and competing at this level against such a dynamic franchise the last couple years,” Pritchard said. “I think we’re all just looking forward to the challenge to go through the series and try to get it done.”
Warriors vs Celtics
28-32; 28-22; 24; 38; 40; 16
The scores:
Warriors (108) – Curry 34, Wiggins 20, Thompson 15, Porter Jr. 12, Poole 9
Celtics (120) – Horford 26, Brown 24, White 21, Smart 18, Tatum 12