Celtics blow by Warriors in fourth quarter, take 1-0 lead in NBA Finals
The Boston Celtics surged in the fourth quarter of Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals, blowing by the Golden State Warriors to take a 1-0 lead.
Jun 2, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) reacts after a three point basket against the Golden State Warriors during the first half of game one of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY SportsThe 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.
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY SportsJun 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.
The Boston Celtics took on the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals at the Chase Center in San Francisco. Golden State is going for its fourth NBA championship in eight seasons, while the Celtics are in the finals for the first time since 2010 and the first time in the careers of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, and Al Horford.
Keep scrolling for more photos from Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals.
2022 NBA Finals - Game One
Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesSAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 02: A general view inside Chase Center immediately prior to Game One of the 2022 NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Boston Celtics on June 02, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
NBA: Finals-Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY SportsJun 2, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) dribbles the ball against the Golden State Warriors during the first half of game one of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Finals-Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY SportsJun 2, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) dribbles the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole (3) during the first half of game one of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Finals-Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY SportsJun 2, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles the ball while defended by Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (center) during the first quarter in game one of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Finals-Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY SportsJun 2, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) dives for a loose ball as forward Grant Williams (12) and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) watch during the first half of game one of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Finals-Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY SportsJun 2, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Boston Celtics forward Al Horford (42) shoots the ball while defended by Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (22) during the first quarter in game one of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Finals-Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY SportsJun 2, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) shoots the ball over Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) during the first quarter in game one of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Finals-Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY SportsJun 2, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) shoots the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole (3) in game one of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Finals-Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY SportsJun 2, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III (44) dunks the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the first quarter during game one of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Finals-Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY SportsJun 2, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots the ball against Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams (12) during game one of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Finals-Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY SportsJun 2, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) shoots the ball against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the first quarter in game one of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Finals-Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY SportsJun 2, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) drives to the basket against Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) during the first quarter during game one of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Finals-Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY SportsJun 2, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) shoots the ball over Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the first quarter in game one of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Finals-Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY SportsJun 2, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (22) shoots the ball while defended by Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) during the first half of game one of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Finals-Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY SportsJun 2, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) controls the ball while defended by Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (right) during the first quarter in game one of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Finals-Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY SportsJun 2, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) shoots the ball against the Golden State Warriors during the first half of game one of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Finals-Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY SportsJun 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
NBA: Finals-Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY SportsJun 2, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (center) shoots the ball over Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) during the first quarter in game one of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Finals-Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY SportsJun 2, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) shoots the ball while defended by Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (left) during the first half of game one of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
2022 NBA Finals - Game One
Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesSAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 02: Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball against Kevon Looney #5 of the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter in Game One of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center on June 02, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
2022 NBA Finals - Game One
Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesSAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 02: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics dribbles against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter in Game One of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center on June 02, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
2022 NBA Finals - Game One
Thearon W. Henderson/Getty ImagesSAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 02: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics dribbles against Otto Porter Jr. #32 of the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter in Game One of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center on June 02, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
2022 NBA Finals - Game One
Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesSAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 02: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics dribbles against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter in Game One of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center on June 02, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
2022 NBA Finals - Game One
Thearon W. Henderson/Getty ImagesSAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 02: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics blocks the shot attempt by Kevon Looney #5 of the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter in Game One of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center on June 02, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
NBA: Finals-Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY SportsJun 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
NBA: Finals-Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY SportsJun 2, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) dribbles the ball while defended by Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole (3) during the second half in game one of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
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