The Boston Celtics went on a stunning surge in the fourth quarter of Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals, outscoring the Golden State Warriors 40-16 in the final 12 minutes to take a 1-0 series lead in spectacular fashion. Al Horford led the Celtics with 26 points, including 11 in the final 5:10 of the game.
For a while, it looked as though a superlative effort by Stephen Curry would be enough for the Warriors. Curry dominated the first quarter, scoring 21 of his 34 points, including 6-of-8 shooting from three-point range. Curry added three rebounds and two assists and was the only player on either team to play all 12 minutes. He scored as many points as Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and the rest of the Warriors combined.
Despite that early heater, Curry ended up scoring zero points in the second quarter, which helped allow the Celtics to claw their way back to the lead. The Warriors went up 47-37 midway through the second, then the C’s closed the first half with a 19-7 run to take a 56-54 lead to halftime. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 12 first-half points, and also made a big play at the defensive end with a block on a Kevon Looney layup attempt.
Both teams racked up the threes in the first half, resulting in a new NBA Finals record for a single half, with 20 combined. The teams ended up combining for 40 three-pointers.
The Warriors found a way to surge back ahead and take their biggest lead of the game in the third quarter, when they went up by as many as 14 points while outscoring the Celtics 38-24. Curry came alive again for nine more points, while Andrew Wiggins scored 12 of his 20. Golden State took a 92-80 lead into the fourth, setting the stage for the Celtics’ furious comeback.
Jun 2, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) high fives guard Jaylen Brown (7) after a play against the Golden State Warriors during the second half of game one of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
According to Micah Adams of The Sporting News, the Celtics’ 40-16 advantage in the fourth quarter was the most lopsided final frame in NBA Finals history.
Tatum scored just 12 points on 3-of-17 (17.6 percent) from the field in the game. Golden State’s tight, physical defensive attention forced mostly contested shots and, ultimately, deteriorating shot selection and accuracy.
Brown and point guard Derrick White picked up the slack offensively. Brown finished with 24 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. White scored 21, including an efficient 5-of-8 from three.
The series now gets a two-day breather, with Game 2 coming Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET at Chase Center.
PHOTOS: Celtics battle Warriors in Game 1 of 2022 NBA Finals
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Al Horford becomes unlikely hero of Celtics' dominant fourth quarter in Game 1
What About Jayson?
Jun 2, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) dribbles the ball while defended by Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and center Kevon Looney (left) during the first half of game one of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
The Celtics’ come-from-behind win was thrilling and worth celebrating in Boston. But it’s going to be an uphill battle throughout the series if Jayson Tatum can’t take over offensively.
It was an NBA Finals opening act to forget for Tatum, who scored just 12 points on 3-of-17 from the field. Exemplifying his improved all-around play this season, Tatum managed to rack up 13 assists, which was actually a new record for an NBA Finals debut. But that was mainly because the Warriors committed so much defensive attention to him, used so many resources, that they ensured it wouldn’t be Tatum who beat them.
“I had a bad shooting night. I just tried to impact the game in other ways,” Tatum said after the game. “We’re in the championship, we’re in the finals. All I was worried about was trying to get a win, and we did, and that’s all that matters at this point.
“I don’t expect to shoot that bad every night, but if it means we keep winning, I’ll take it.”
Horford, Brown, and others joined forces to make up for a down night for Tatum, who slogged through a mix of physical defense and deteriorating shot selection. If the C’s do end up winning the series, their superior offensive depth could ultimately be the reason why. But it’s hard to imagine them winning the Finals without a Tatum awakening.
Still plenty of time for that.
Big-Stage Jaylen
Jun 2, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) dunks the ball during the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors in game one of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
If Brown keeps this up, he may be worthy of a “Big-Game” type of nickname. “Big-Stage Jaylen” may not quite cut it. But that’s not important right now. What’s important is that Brown is a stone-cold killer in the fourth quarter.
Brown ignited the Celtics’ late comeback in the first place, and exuded a fearlessness throughout Game 1 that should serve him well in this series, and whenever he gets to this big a stage. He wasn’t afraid to attack, and produced when they truly needed it the most. His explosion was exemplary of the Celtics really coming together as a team in the fourth.
“Offensively, I just tried to get our team going by being aggressive and finding the right plays, and some shots went down for us and it kind of just snowballed,” Brown told ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt after the game.
According to StatMuse on Twitter, Brown is now shooting 66.7 percent from the field in the fourth quarter during the 2022 playoffs, and leads all players in fourth-quarter points. So, it’s important for the Warriors to remember that the Celtics have two offensive studs. Even if they can keep Tatum in check, there’s still Brown to worry about.
He gave them plenty to worry about in Game 1.
Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @realmattdolloff. You can also email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.
NEXT… Mazz: How the Celtics Teamed Up to Bury the Warriors in Game 1
NBA Finals X-Factors: Celtics and Warriors players to watch
Marcus Smart
May 21, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) reacts after a play against the Miami Heat in the third quarter during game three of the 2022 eastern conference finals at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
I know there’s a lot of Celtics fans that probably don’t want to hear this – and somewhere out there Adam Jones is probably trying to delete this take from the station’s website – but Marcus Smart has a real chance to be the pivotal player in this series. That’s not to say he’ll be the best player or the highest scoring player or anything like that, but his skills on the defensive end of the floor – and whether or not he’s healthy enough to play up to his potential defensively – will go a long way in determining what kind of series this is.
Of course, this is tied into Curry’s standing in the series. If he gets hot, it becomes nearly impossible to stop Golden State. That’s where Smart comes in.
Curry is a career 47.3 percent field goal shooter. That number is impressive enough on its own for a point guard, and even more eye-popping when you consider how often he shoots from outside. But when he faces Marcus Smart, he becomes a whole new player. But going back to the 2017-2018 season, with Smart on him as a primary defender, Curry’s shooting percentage drops to 33.3 percent. He goes from making almost half his shots to exactly a third.
For most of this playoff run, the Celtics’ core defensive strategy has been to erase the opponent’s top offensive option, and force them to turn to secondary scoring. If they can do that to Steph Curry with a single defender, it opens them up to get more creative against the Warriors’ other shooters.
However there is an unknown variable here, and that’s Marcus Smart’s health. “My whole right side is a little banged up on my leg,” Smart said after Game 7. “I’ve got the quad injury, I’ve got the foot injury, and then I have the ankle injury.” Smart indicated he’s been playing at “65-70 percent” despite looking strong in Game 7.
While the exact severity of Smart’s injuries are unknown, it probably didn’t help that the Celtics played every other day between May 7 and May 29. With three days off before the Finals, how much did Smart’s condition improve? If he’s fully healthy, his defensive ability becomes a fulcrum of the series. If not, the Celtics may need to seriously compensate when the Warriors have the ball.
Warriors’ secondary scoring
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 26: Jordan Poole #3 and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Golden State Warriors react to a play during the second quarter against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Five of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Finals at Chase Center on May 26, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Let’s say the Celtics do shut down Curry, who will step up for the Warriors? Thompson remains an obvious candidate, but after missing the last two years with a torn ACL and Achilles, he hasn’t been the same player. A career 45.9 percent shooter from the field at 41.9 percent from three prior to the injuries, he’s saw those numbers dip to 42.9 percent and 38.5 percent respectively this season.
However, Golden State has added more secondary scoring since the departure of Kevin Durant. Former first overall pick Andrew Wiggins was acquired by the Warriors during the 2019-2020 season, and it a big part of what Golden State does offensively. He provides another weapon from the perimeter shooting 39.3 percent from three, and he can capitalize if and when teams pay too much attention to Thompson and Curry.
The Warriors can also create offense with their second unit. Jordan Poole began the year as a starter, but has transitioned to a bench role during the playoffs. He had a breakout season in his third year in the NBA, and finished third on the team averaging 18.5 points per game. He was a handful for the Celtics back in March, scoring 29 points on 10-of-20 shooting and going 6-of-13 from deep. Much of that came without Curry in the game, meaning Poole saw increased defensive pressure.
Jonathan Kuminga and Otto Porter Jr. can offer also offense from the bench, as well as veteran Andre Igoudala. Porter and Igoudala have missed time with injuries during the playoffs, but have started practicing again and could be available for this series.
While the Celtics have for the most part had success defending star players in these playoffs, they’ve let secondary scorers light up the box score at times. Bruce Brown gave them trouble in the Nets series, Bobby Portis gave them fits at times against Milwaukee (although they dodged the real danger in Khris Middleton), and even against the Heat Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, and Victor Oladipo gave them issues all in different games. The Celtics were able to overcome those performances to this point, but Golden State’s depth is on another level. If the Warriors can flex it, it could force the Celtics to adjust their overall defensive strategy.
Coaching matchup
MIAMI, FLORIDA – MAY 19: Head coach Ime Udoka of the Boston Celtics looks on during the second quarter against the Miami Heat in Game Two of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals at FTX Arena on May 19, 2022 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Coaching is often undersold in the NBA, but this matchup is an interesting one. On one side there’s Steve Kerr, coaching in sixth NBA Finals. On the other side is Ime Udoka, who has been to this point as an assistant (with the Spurs in 2014) but is in his first year as a head coach. So far, lopsided experience hasn’t been a problem for Udoka. He bested nine-year veteran and two-time Coach of the Year Mike Budenholzer in the second round, then went toe-to-toe in a hard fought series against 14-year vet and also two-time Coach of the Year Erik Spoelstra.
For Kerr this series is a chance to knock off the team that has given him more trouble than any other, and do so on the biggest stage. Since Kerr took over as the head coach in Golden State in 2014, the Celtics are the only team with a winning record against the Warriors going 9-7 head-to-head in that span.
Meanwhile, Udoka will be tasks with continuing to push the right buttons as he has throughout the second half of this season and the playoff run. One of the first adjustments he’ll have to make regards the rotation. The Celtics used a primarily seven-man rotation against the Heat after going deeper into their bench earlier in the playoffs. Will he choose to stay selective against a deeper Warriors team, or find spots to use players like Payton Pritchard and Daniel Theis, who may be more effective against this Golden State team than they were against Miami.
One other coaching point – in the last series against Miami, the Celtics struggled at times coming out of Heat timeouts especially at TD Garden. In their losses in Games 3 and 6, it seemed like every time they were about to make a run at the lead in the second half, Spoelstra would call for a well-timed stoppage, and after the break the Heat would regain control of the game.
Whether that was the Heat handling those pauses in the action well, or the Celtics handling them poorly is hard to tell, and it’s likely a combination of both. But improving in that area ties closely to coaching, so it’s something to keep an eye on in regards to Udoka as the series gets underway.
NBA Finals X-Factors: Celtics and Warriors players to watch
Marcus Smart
May 21, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) reacts after a play against the Miami Heat in the third quarter during game three of the 2022 eastern conference finals at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
I know there’s a lot of Celtics fans that probably don’t want to hear this – and somewhere out there Adam Jones is probably trying to delete this take from the station’s website – but Marcus Smart has a real chance to be the pivotal player in this series. That’s not to say he’ll be the best player or the highest scoring player or anything like that, but his skills on the defensive end of the floor – and whether or not he’s healthy enough to play up to his potential defensively – will go a long way in determining what kind of series this is.
Of course, this is tied into Curry’s standing in the series. If he gets hot, it becomes nearly impossible to stop Golden State. That’s where Smart comes in.
Curry is a career 47.3 percent field goal shooter. That number is impressive enough on its own for a point guard, and even more eye-popping when you consider how often he shoots from outside. But when he faces Marcus Smart, he becomes a whole new player. But going back to the 2017-2018 season, with Smart on him as a primary defender, Curry’s shooting percentage drops to 33.3 percent. He goes from making almost half his shots to exactly a third.
For most of this playoff run, the Celtics’ core defensive strategy has been to erase the opponent’s top offensive option, and force them to turn to secondary scoring. If they can do that to Steph Curry with a single defender, it opens them up to get more creative against the Warriors’ other shooters.
However there is an unknown variable here, and that’s Marcus Smart’s health. “My whole right side is a little banged up on my leg,” Smart said after Game 7. “I’ve got the quad injury, I’ve got the foot injury, and then I have the ankle injury.” Smart indicated he’s been playing at “65-70 percent” despite looking strong in Game 7.
While the exact severity of Smart’s injuries are unknown, it probably didn’t help that the Celtics played every other day between May 7 and May 29. With three days off before the Finals, how much did Smart’s condition improve? If he’s fully healthy, his defensive ability becomes a fulcrum of the series. If not, the Celtics may need to seriously compensate when the Warriors have the ball.
Warriors’ secondary scoring
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 26: Jordan Poole #3 and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Golden State Warriors react to a play during the second quarter against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Five of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Finals at Chase Center on May 26, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Let’s say the Celtics do shut down Curry, who will step up for the Warriors? Thompson remains an obvious candidate, but after missing the last two years with a torn ACL and Achilles, he hasn’t been the same player. A career 45.9 percent shooter from the field at 41.9 percent from three prior to the injuries, he’s saw those numbers dip to 42.9 percent and 38.5 percent respectively this season.
However, Golden State has added more secondary scoring since the departure of Kevin Durant. Former first overall pick Andrew Wiggins was acquired by the Warriors during the 2019-2020 season, and it a big part of what Golden State does offensively. He provides another weapon from the perimeter shooting 39.3 percent from three, and he can capitalize if and when teams pay too much attention to Thompson and Curry.
The Warriors can also create offense with their second unit. Jordan Poole began the year as a starter, but has transitioned to a bench role during the playoffs. He had a breakout season in his third year in the NBA, and finished third on the team averaging 18.5 points per game. He was a handful for the Celtics back in March, scoring 29 points on 10-of-20 shooting and going 6-of-13 from deep. Much of that came without Curry in the game, meaning Poole saw increased defensive pressure.
Jonathan Kuminga and Otto Porter Jr. can offer also offense from the bench, as well as veteran Andre Igoudala. Porter and Igoudala have missed time with injuries during the playoffs, but have started practicing again and could be available for this series.
While the Celtics have for the most part had success defending star players in these playoffs, they’ve let secondary scorers light up the box score at times. Bruce Brown gave them trouble in the Nets series, Bobby Portis gave them fits at times against Milwaukee (although they dodged the real danger in Khris Middleton), and even against the Heat Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, and Victor Oladipo gave them issues all in different games. The Celtics were able to overcome those performances to this point, but Golden State’s depth is on another level. If the Warriors can flex it, it could force the Celtics to adjust their overall defensive strategy.
Coaching matchup
MIAMI, FLORIDA – MAY 19: Head coach Ime Udoka of the Boston Celtics looks on during the second quarter against the Miami Heat in Game Two of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals at FTX Arena on May 19, 2022 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Coaching is often undersold in the NBA, but this matchup is an interesting one. On one side there’s Steve Kerr, coaching in sixth NBA Finals. On the other side is Ime Udoka, who has been to this point as an assistant (with the Spurs in 2014) but is in his first year as a head coach. So far, lopsided experience hasn’t been a problem for Udoka. He bested nine-year veteran and two-time Coach of the Year Mike Budenholzer in the second round, then went toe-to-toe in a hard fought series against 14-year vet and also two-time Coach of the Year Erik Spoelstra.
For Kerr this series is a chance to knock off the team that has given him more trouble than any other, and do so on the biggest stage. Since Kerr took over as the head coach in Golden State in 2014, the Celtics are the only team with a winning record against the Warriors going 9-7 head-to-head in that span.
Meanwhile, Udoka will be tasks with continuing to push the right buttons as he has throughout the second half of this season and the playoff run. One of the first adjustments he’ll have to make regards the rotation. The Celtics used a primarily seven-man rotation against the Heat after going deeper into their bench earlier in the playoffs. Will he choose to stay selective against a deeper Warriors team, or find spots to use players like Payton Pritchard and Daniel Theis, who may be more effective against this Golden State team than they were against Miami.
One other coaching point – in the last series against Miami, the Celtics struggled at times coming out of Heat timeouts especially at TD Garden. In their losses in Games 3 and 6, it seemed like every time they were about to make a run at the lead in the second half, Spoelstra would call for a well-timed stoppage, and after the break the Heat would regain control of the game.
Whether that was the Heat handling those pauses in the action well, or the Celtics handling them poorly is hard to tell, and it’s likely a combination of both. But improving in that area ties closely to coaching, so it’s something to keep an eye on in regards to Udoka as the series gets underway.