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Best pitcher: Andrew Wiggins (left), here in a duel with Boston's Al Horford, scored a strong 26 points for the Warriors
Photo: Ezra Shaw/USA TODAY Sports/ REUTERS
For the Boston Celtics, the dream of the NBA title threatens to burst.
The record champions lost the fifth final game in the North American basketball professional league at the Golden State Warriors 94:104 and fell 2:3 behind in the best-of-seven series.
Boston now needs to win back-to-back to clinch its 18th championship.
Even on a weak evening by Stephen Curry, the Golden State Warriors took a big step towards the NBA title.
Only one victory is missing for the seventh championship in their history.
Curry, who failed to convert a three in nine attempts, remained well below his usual level.
'He'll be furious.
And that's exactly what we need before game six, "said Curry's teammate Draymond Green before what was perhaps the decisive game in Boston on Friday night (3 a.m.).
“Even for the best marksman in the world there are games like that.
Luckily not that often,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr.
Curry only scored seven of his 22 attempts, three days after his 43-point gala in Boston there were only 16 points in front of the home fans.
The fact that the Celtics were still 16 points behind in the first quarter and that even an outstanding race to catch up in the third quarter with a lead of up to five points was not enough for them seemed like a preliminary decision immediately after the end of the game.
"It was more than just a run, they pretty much dominated the whole quarter - that we still went into the last quarter with a lead was huge," said Jordan Poole.
Andrew Wiggins took charge
The takeaway from this game: Even without Curry in top form, the Warriors can beat Boston.
Andrew Wiggins in particular had a strong evening, at both ends of the pitch.
With 26 points he was the top scorer, he also got 13 rebounds and two steals.
Klay Thompson had 21 points, Gary Payton II had 15 and Poole had 14. "I can read this list out in full - the whole squad did their part," Thompson said.
While the Warriors, tried and tested in the Finals, were able to be celebrated by the fans, the Celtics crept off the floor, dejected and frustrated.
"It's about consistency for us and we don't have that for a whole game," criticized Celtics coach Ime Udoka, who again completely dispensed with German international Daniel Theis.
Especially the eighteen turnovers were
hurt the guests enormously.
Golden State only had six.
“We're all frustrated with tonight, but the good news is we've been in this situation and we've made it.
So let's do that again,' said Udoka.
In the previous rounds, the Celtics were only one defeat away from the end.
However, after the defeat at the start, the Warriors are now very confident.
"I've never been so excited to come to Boston," Thompson said.
see/dpa
