Celtics highlights: Golden State Warriors’ dominant third quarter too much for Boston, who lose 107-88 in Game 2

The Golden State Warriors dominated the third quarter to tie the series up at 1-1

The Boston Celtics lost a tough game against the Golden State Warriors tonight 107-88. The Celtics got off to a great start with Tatum and Brown both scoring 13 in the first quarter. The turnover differential for the Celtics started to add up but was manageable because of the red hot 3-point shooting from Boston.

The Warriors led 52-50 at the half, but a huge third quarter saw Golden State pull away, outscoring the Celtics 35-14 in the game’s penultimate frame. Tatum played well but the rest of his supporting cast didn’t show up to the contest, with Al Horford and Marcus Smart both struggling to make shots and neither one of them engaged in the game on either end.

For how good Tatum was in the game, he still had a career-worst -36 plus/minus. The rest of the cast needs to show up if the Celtics want a solid chance of winning the series.

Boston clearly needs to make adjustments going into game 3, but to get an idea of where they ought to focus, check out the highlight clip embedded above put together by the folks at NBC Boston Sports.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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NBA Twitter reacts to Warriors’ blowout win in Game 2 of Finals vs. Celtics

After the Warriors used an explosive third quarter to seal a blowout win in Game 2 of the NBA Finals over the Celtics, NBA Twitter popped off with different reactions.

After collapsing late in Game 1 to the Boston Celtics, the Golden State Warriors needed to respond in Game 2 at San Francisco’s Chase Center before the NBA Finals shifted to TD Garden on Wednesday. 

On Sunday night, the Warriors answered the bell. 

After trading buckets in the first half, the Warriors used an explosive third-quarter run to take a commanding lead over Boston. The Warriors turned a two-point lead at halftime into a 23-point advantage before the start of the fourth quarter. After landing a haymaker in the third quarter, Golden State cruised to a 107-88 victory over Boston in Game 2 to even the series, 1-1. 

Curry tallied a game-high 29 points on 9-of-21 shooting with five triples, six rebounds and four assists in 32 minutes against the Celtics in Game 2. Jordan Poole heated up in Game 2 off the bench, adding 17 points on 6-of-14 shooting from the field with five 3-pointers of his own. Jayson Tatum led the way for the Celtics with 28 points on 8-of-19 shooting from the floor with six 3-pointers, six boards and three assists in 34 minutes.

Following Golden State’s win over Boston in Game 2, the NBA community on Twitter flooded the timeline with different reactions. Here’s a look at what fans, analysts and players were saying about the NBA Finals on Sunday night.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

3 observations: Massive 3rd quarter propels Warriors to pivotal victory in Game 2 of Finals

The Warriors used a massive third quarter to blast the Celtics and even the series. Here’s three observations from Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

The Golden State Warriors (0-1) hosted the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Golden State needed to tie the series before heading East for Games 3 and 4. Boston hoped to take a commanding 2-0 series lead before heading home. The Warriors outscored the Celtics 35-14 in the third quarter to seize control of the game and tie the series at 1 game apiece, 107-88.

Stephen Curry led all scorers with 29 points on 9-for-21 shooting. Jordan Poole scored 17 points on 6-for-14 shooting in 23 minutes off the bench.

Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 28 points on 8-for-19 shooting. Jaylen Brown scored 17 points on 5-for-17 shooting.

Here are 3 observations from the Warriors’ win.

Boston Celtics set a number of records in Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals vs. the Golden State Warriors

Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals was a historic night for the Celtics in more than one way.

The Boston Celtics set a number of records and milestones in their Game 1 won over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night, a quite impressive comeback win that more than matched a blistering onslaught from Golden State superstar guard Steph Curry in the game’s first quarter and another brisk assault in the tilt’s penultimate frame.

Some of it came from the fact that every single player on the Celtics’ roster happen to be making their NBA Finals debut and several did so in remarkable fashion. Others were simply a product of excellence in the moment, but all things being equal, Boston left their mark in the history books with the win.

Let’s take a look at the benchmarks made and records set in Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals.

Eddie House, Brian Scalabrine think Draymond Green, Dubs comments a cover for stinging loss

At least two Celtics alumni think they want to deflect concern over a significant loss.

The Boston Celtics beat the Golden State Warriors handily in Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals despite their All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum having an off night on the offensive end of the floor, going 3-of-17 from the field. That happened in large part because of the team’s other key players stepping up and hitting the open shots closed off to Tatum by the Dubs defense.

After Golden State lost, several members of the team downplayed the seriousness of the loss both in the postgame press conference and in podcasts after they’d had some more time to reflect on things — could Draymond Green and company have a point, or are they covering their collective posteriors?

For at least some analysts, it would be the latter. Included in that camp are NBC Sports Boston broadcasters (and Celtics alumni, full disclosure) Eddie House and Brian Scalabrine.

On a recent episode of the “Early Edition” show hosted by Trenni Kusnierek, the trio debated the merits of the Warriors’ take on the loss, and more.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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Celtics vs. Warriors: Top photos from Game 1 of 2022 NBA Finals

Here’s a look at the top photos from Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors.

Despite a scorching start to the contest by Steph Curry, the Golden State Warriors dropped the opening game of the NBA Finals to the Boston Celtics, 120-108. After trailing by 12 heading into the fourth quarter, the Celtics caught fire, blowing out the Warriors 40-16 in the final 12 minutes to sneak away with a comeback win in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. 

The Celtics hit a barrage of late 3-pointers, led by Al Horford, Derrick White, Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown. Five different members of the Celtics tallied double-figure scoring efforts, with Horford leading the way with 26 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the floor. 

Curry notched a game-high 34-points on 12-of-25 shooting from the field with seven triples, five assists and five rebounds in 38 minutes. Curry’s 21 first-quarter points set the mark for the most points in a single quarter of the NBA Finals since 1993.

With the Celtics taking a 1-0 lead in the NBA Finals, here’s a look at the top photos from Game 1 on Thursday night.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

Mock trade has Brooklyn Nets bringing D’Angelo Russell back to the Barclays Center

Should the Nets be looking to bring D’Angelo Russell back to Brooklyn to pair with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving?

Ben Simmons’ name has been popping up in trade rumors and proposals for months, and with the Nets unable to truly know what type of player they’ll be getting following his post-season back surgery, it may not be a bad idea to cash in on Simmons’ value for a more known commodity.

Should the Nets be looking to bring a former star back to Brooklyn this offseason? According to Andy Quach of NBAanalysis.net, former Nets guard D’Angelo Russell could be just what Brooklyn needs to pair alongside Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.

Russell also carries a bit of extra value as an expiring contract, as he’s entering the final year of his four-year, $117 million deal he originally signed with the Nets. Russell is set to make $31,377,750 next season.

Via NBAanalysis.net:

“The Nets proved how desperately they need a table-setter on offense when the Boston Celtics exposed their lack of playmaking in their first-round sweep of Brooklyn, easily limiting Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant’s shot creation in the process.

The Brooklyn Nets could trade Ben Simmons — infamously one of KAT’s best friends in the league — who’s yet to appear in a game for them and nab a safer contributor in return. Brooklyn could squeeze out some additional depth or assets from Minnesota as well considering they’d be trading away the best player in the deal.”

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Breaking down the Boston Celtics epic Game 1 comeback against the Golden State Warriors

With the win, Boston stole home court away from the Dubs — now can they steal the series?

First, the Golden State Warriors saw their superstar point guard Stephen Curry go on a tear in the first quarter to jump out to a double-digit lead over the Boston Celtics. Then, after the guys in green managed to fight back and take a small lead heading into the game’s penultimate frame, the Dubs came out hard to take one of their patented third-quarter scoring extravaganzas to Boston’s hapless defense.

If you despaired with the belief that the game was over at that point, you would be forgiven; few teams can withstand that kind of an offensive avalanche and live to tell the tale. But the Celtics did exactly that, roaring back in the contest’s fourth-quarter behind huge games from star forward Jaylen Brown, veteran center Al Horford, and reserve guard Derrick White.

How did Boston pull it off? Has the advantage passed to the Celtics after the Warriors lost home-court advantage? Does Golden State need to hold steady, or can their original game plan still work in this series?

The host of the CLNS Media “Winning Plays” podcast Brian Robb got together with Brendan Jackson to talk all things Boston and Game 1; check out the clip embedded above to hear their views on the Celtics’ chances to win it all.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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Draymond Green, Klay Thompson not overreacting to Warriors’ Game 1 loss

Draymond Green and Klay Thompson didn’t overreact after the Warriors dropped Game 1 of the NBA Finals at home to the Boston Celtics.

After a red-hot start by Steph Curry, the Golden State Warriors looked like they were close to cruising to a 1-0 lead in the 2022 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics.

Behind a barrage of early triples from Curry, the Warriors held a 12-point advantage heading into the final frame of Game 1. While a victory was only 12 minutes away, the Warriors went quiet as the Celtics turned the tide of the game.

With Derrick White, Jaylen Brown and Al Horford firing, the Celtics stormed to a comeback with a fierce fourth-quarter performance. Boston outscored Golden State 40-16 in the fourth quarter to steal Game 1 of the NBA Finals, 120-108.

Despite their collapse in Game 1, Warriors guard Klay Thompson isn’t overreacting to the letdown loss.

Via @NBCSWarriors on Twitter:

Well, you know, it’s first to four, not first to one, and we all have been through situations like this. And we realize that it will take — it’s going to be very hard. Best part about it is we have another opportunity Sunday.

Thompson registered 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting from the field with three 3-pointers, three assists and two rebounds in Thursday’s Game 1 loss.

Green similarly shared his teammate’s thoughts on trailing 1-0 in the Finals. Golden State’s defensive captain said the Game 1 loss hasn’t hit the Warriors’ confidence and they will embrace the defeat.

No, it’s fine. You get a chance to do something else, do it in a different way, embrace the challenge. We’ve always embraced challenges. It’s no different. We’ll embrace this one. So no, it’s not a hit to the confidence at all, not one bit.

During Game 1, Green tallied four points on 2-of-12 shooting from the field with 11 boards, five assists and two steals in 38 minutes against the Celtics on Thursday.

Thompson, Green and the Warriors will have the chance to respond on the court on Sunday in the Bay Area. With the Celtics holding a 1-0 lead, Game 2 is set for 5 p.m. PT on Sunday at San Francisco’s Chase Center.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

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‘We have a lot of confidence’ in Derrick White says Boston’s Al Horford after his 21-point Game 1 vs. Warriors

A confident, comfortable White ought to make the Dubs nervous after what he did in Game 1.

Derrick White took a while to get used to playing with the Boston Celtics, his respect for his teammates perhaps causing him to play a little too cautiously out of fear of rocking a well-established boat too much in the process. But little by little, that footing has gone away for White — and after hearing about it for the first time himself, teammate Al Horford wouldn’t have it any other way.

After the former San Antonio Spurs put up a critical 21 points for Boston off the bench on Thursday on the way to the Celtics’ Game 1 NBA Finals win over the Golden State Warriors, Horford became aware of White’s trepidations at the podium. “I wasn’t aware of that,” said Horford. “We love Derrick, what he’s brought to our group, his energy, his commitment to working hard. He continues to work no matter how is it going for him individually, he continues to prepare.”

“We have a lot of confidence in him,” added the Celtics veteran. “Thank you for telling me that. I’ll make sure I address it. It’s something that he just needs to go out there and play — we have the utmost confidence in him.”

“He was huge for us tonight,” explained Horford. “His confidence, his energy were really good for us.” If the Celtics can depend on even half of what he was able to provide them with for the rest of the series, Banner 18 might just end up getting hung this summer.

That is, so long as White stops tiptoeing around and asserts himself as his teammates — and actions — have shown he can.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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