Boston Celtic fought from behind to defeat the Warriors in the game 1 of the NBA final.
Boston Celtic defeated the Golden State Warriors 108-102, fighting back in the fourth quarter to steal the game 1 of the 2022 NBA final.
The Warriors outscored the Celtics 38-24 in the third to turn a two-point half-time deficit into a 12-point lead. But Boston fought back, and they did so with gusto, reducing it to three by the midway point in the fourth.
Then Derrick White nailed a three to tie it before Al Horford, who led the Celtics with 26 points, hit from range twice – either side of a timeout – to give them a six-point lead.
It was the start of a remarkable 17-0 Celtics run to take command of the series opener, and it came after they had to withstand a barrage in the first quarter from Stephen Curry.
Curry set a new NBA Finals record for 3-pointers made in a single quarter, eclipsing the previous record of five shared by the Warriors superstar, Ray Allen and Kenny Smith.
He finished with 34 points in the end to lead the Dubs, who dropped their first game at home this postseason.
The Celtics are looking to capture their record-breaking 18th title, which would move them past the Lakers, and now are just three wins away from doing it.
The Warriors, who are looking for a fourth title in eight years, will have to win this one from behind after being 21-2 in their previous Game 1s under coach Kerr.
“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 said. “Boston played a brilliant quarter. They came in and earned the win.”
The series is now fascinatingly poised heading into Game 2 this weekend with the pressure now very much on Golden State to respond.
