Celtics Take Game 1 From Warriors With Huge Fourth Quarter, 120-108

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It’s the 2022 NBA Finals and the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors are wanting to add to their legacy of greatness. For the Celtics, it is a chance to add the 18th banner to the rafters of their hallowed arena. A chance to show the world that even with the passage of time great franchises find a way to stay great. A way to show the NBA how to make it to the Finals after such a grueling playoff run in the first couple of rounds. A chance to close out the mission that has escaped this crew in recent years.

For the Warriors, it is a chance to add their fourth NBA title in the last eight years. A chance to cement the word dynasty next to their name. The opportunity to show that even through lineup changes, they can still rely on the old reliables in Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. Remember when Kevin Durant came to Golden State and it looked like this team would win championship after championship for years to come? Durant is long and gone and look at these Warriors still doing what they know how to do. That is win baby, just win.

Game 1 in San Francisco saw Curry so hot that a bucket of frozen ice could not have cooled him off. He hit six three-pointers and scored 21 points in the first 12 minutes of the game. The speed of the Warriors completely took the Celtics off guard. Yet, it wasn’t just Curry doing damage. Golden State hit three after three, layup after layup and just flat out broke the vaunted Celtics defense down. Still, after all the firepower from the Warriors, the Celtics were down just four, 32-28 after one.

In the second quarter, an Otter Porter three put the Warriors up 35-28 and it looked like the momentum was going to the Dubs. Another Porter three made it 44-37 and at the 7:36 mark, and a Thompson three put the Dubs up 10 at 47-37. It was at this point you could feel that this game was about to get away from the Celtics. Especially since their star, Jason Tatum was having a rough first 18 minutes to this point.

But we would eventually learn that on this night, Boston would not panic. They would keep their cool in the face of multiple Golden State runs and hang in the game. A Marcus Smart three cut the lead to 47-43. That was followed by a Jaylen Brown 19-footer and a basket by Smart to tie the game at 49. The half ended with the Celtics up 56-54.

The third quarter was all Golden State as they hit shot after shot and outscored the Celtics 38-24. Andrew Wiggins was the catalyst scoring 12 points and igniting his team. Tatum continued his horrid shooting from the floor but was being effective as a distributor. He would finish with 13 assists to help make up for a 3-17 shooting night. A great shooting period would see the Dubs go up 92-80 after three and it looked like it was lights out for Boston.

But that is why they play 48 minutes in this game. That is why it doesn’t matter what you do during the game but it is how you finish that counts. Down 12, the Celtics would mount one of the great fourth-quarter comebacks in NBA Finals annals. For the Celtics, Brown would score eight points, and Al Horford, he of the found fountain of youth, would add 11 in what could be his best playoff performance ever. It would take a run to seal the game and that run began with the Warriors up 130-100 with 5:51 to play. From there, the Celtics would go on a 14-0 run to seal the deal and take Game 1, 120-108.

For the Warriors, it is about the film. Breaking down what went so wrong in the fourth quarter. Finding out what adjustments they have to make to even the series. For Boston, it will be about one thing. How can they capitalize on the fourth quarter and use that to take a 2-0 lead going home.

Stay tuned folks as it looks like we are about to have an NBA Finals that could be one to remember.