Stephen Curry, spicy flavor with 29 points in three quarters, and an intractable defense allowed Golden State to largely win (107-88) against Boston, Sunday in San Francisco, to equalize with a victory everywhere in the final NBA which opposes them.
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The Warriors wanted to "
turn the page
" after the cold shower of the N.1 match and this fourth quarter where they had taken a terrible leap with nine three-point baskets conceded (40-16), which made their 15 steps ahead.
The loss of the advantage of the floor forced them to do so – they will also have to win at least once in Boston to win a fourth title, for their sixth final in eight years.
“
Everyone was more involved.
Our physical commitment was increased and it had to be.
We also had to be much more focused and aggressive
,” summed up coach Steve Kerr.
His players have indeed put the ingredients in terms of intensity and seriousness, maintained until the end.
Because, as they have made a specialty of it this season, they still flew over the 3rd quarter (35-14).
With a 23-point lead at the start of the last period, Golden State did not loosen the grip this time.
Out of the question to leave the Celtics, certainly very clumsy (34%), the possibility of a new comeback.
Poole makes 'splash'
Stephen Curry (6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 interceptions), already prolific in the first game (36 pts) despite his disappearance in the money-time, was again the locomotive of the Warriors in this 3rd quarter, planting 14 points including three baskets behind the arc.
And did not even have to come off the bench in the last twelve minutes, synonymous with welcome rest.
“
We had to play with the energy of desperation and that's what we did.
It's a good feeling to get back on track.
Now we have to do it at home
,” he commented.
Overall, Curry has been remarkably narrow in his initiatives.
It is obviously too early to draw conclusions, because the champion is far from known, but the leader delivers an MVP performance that he has never been in the NBA finals, despite three rings (2015, 2017, 2018 ).
His "
Splash Brother
" Klay Thompson, on the other hand, was still in difficulty on shots (1/8 at long distance, 11 pts), unlike Jordan Poole (17 pts), finally released after a first filled with false notes on Thursday.
Like Curry, he planted five award-winning banderillas including one of the logo in the center of the field, at the third quarter buzzer, which quickly killed all suspense.
During this time and even throughout, the Californian defense was fierce, especially inside (24 points scored by Boston, 40 by Golden State), like Draymond Green (9 pts, 5 rebounds, 7 assists ).
Tatum floats
Boiling, on the verge of exclusion in the first period after a clash with Jaylen Brown, the winger multiplied to erect a white wall against the C's, well helped by Keyvon Looney, still precious (12 pts, 7 rebounds, 3 interceptions).
Golden State was so deterrent that Boston lost 18 balls and was intercepted 15 times.
So much so that his solid address behind the three-point line (15/37) was the tree that hid the green forest.
And his trunk will have been Jayson Tatum (28 pts, 6/9 behind the arc, 6 rebounds).
The winger, as often during his play-offs, was able to bounce back after his missed score from the previous match.
The problem is that he was the only one to float on the C's side.
After a very good start, marked by 13 points in the first quarter, Jaylen Brown (17 pts, 6 rbds) died and apart from Derrick White (12 pts), no other player put more than six pawns .
Faced with the Warriors who welcomed them with the bit between their teeth, the Celtics did not redouble their efforts at the end of the second period.
Might as well save: two matches are looming in their TD Garden cauldron, N.3 on Wednesday.