Celtics fall flat in fourth quarter again, go down 3-2 in NBA Finals
The Celtics had another rough fourth quarter in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, as the Golden State Warriors took over late once again.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 13: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the second quarter against the Golden State Warriors in Game Five of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center on June 13, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesThe Boston Celtics are one game away from elimination. Another rough fourth quarter doomed them in Game 5 against the Golden State Warriors, who again took over down the stretch to win by a 104-94 final Monday night and take a 3-2 lead in the 2022 NBA Finals.
Golden State took a 75-74 lead into the fourth quarter, then ripped off 10 straight points to build a lead that the Celtics could not overcome. On a night Stephen Curry took a step back (16 points), Andrew Wiggins came up big for the Warriors with 26 points, while Klay Thompson added 21 for his third straight productive offensive effort.
The biggest story for the Celtics coming out of this game, besides another fourth-quarter collapse, will be their overall offensive sloppiness. They lost the turnover battle by a staggering 18-6 margin and shot just 41.3 percent as a team. They were even worse from the free throw line, at just 67.7 percent (21-of-31). Jayson Tatum overcame early problems to finish with 27 points on 10-of-20 from the field, but Jaylen Brown's off night (18 points on just 5-of-18 shooting) leaves a sting.
Tatum got off to a puzzling start offensively. He didn't attempt a shot until 2:06 remaining in the first quarter, and didn't come alive until late in the second, when he scored five late points to get to 13 at the half. Golden State took advantage of the slow start for both Tatum and Brown (four first-half points), taking a 51-39 lead into halftime.
The Celtics battled back into the game in the third quarter after a slow first half, thanks to Tatum suddenly catching fire. Tatum hit three straight three-pointers at one point, and Marcus Smart and Al Horford shortly followed. A Grant Williams block of a Stephen Curry three, followed by a lay-in and good free throw, briefly gave the Celtics a five-point lead at 66-61.
From that point, the Warriors answered from three with two makes each by Thompson and Jordan Poole to finish the third quarter with a one-point lead. They carried that momentum over to the fourth for the ensuing game-deciding run. After the C's went up 66-61 in the third, the Warriors closed the game on 43-28 run.
The 2022 NBA Finals now shifts back to Boston for Game 6, with the Celtics down 3-2 and facing elimination. Golden State will be going for its fourth NBA championship in eight seasons and first since 2018. This is the second time in this playoff that the C's have gone down 3-2 in a series. They previously won Games 6 and 7 against the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round.
Game 6 takes place at TD Garden on Thursday night, with tip-off set for 9 p.m. ET. You can get the call of the game on 98.5 The Sports Hub with Sean Grande and Cedric Maxwell, starting with pregame coverage at 8:30.
The Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors met on Monday night for Game 5 of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center in San Francisco. Keep scrolling for more photos from the game.
2022 NBA Finals - Game Five
Lachlan Cunningham/Getty ImagesSAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 13: A general view as Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors and Robert Williams III #44 of the Boston Celtics compete for the tipoff ball during the first quarter in Game Five of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center on June 13, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
2022 NBA Finals - Game Five
Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesSAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 13: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors and Robert Williams III #44 of the Boston Celtics compete for the tipoff ball during the first quarter in Game Five of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center on June 13, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
2022 NBA Finals - Game Five
Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesSAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 13: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics wait for play to begin during the second quarter in Game Five of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center on June 13, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
2022 NBA Finals - Game Five
Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesSAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 13: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors dives for the ball against Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics during the second quarter in Game Five of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center on June 13, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
2022 NBA Finals - Game Five
Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesSAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 13: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics loses control of the ball against Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter in Game Five of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center on June 13, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
2022 NBA Finals - Game Five
Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesSAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 13: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket against Robert Williams III #44 of the Boston Celtics during the third quarter in Game Five of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center on June 13, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
2022 NBA Finals - Game Five
Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesSAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 13: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the second quarter against the Golden State Warriors in Game Five of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center on June 13, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
2022 NBA Finals - Game Five
Thearon W. Henderson/Getty ImagesSAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 13: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors shoots a three point basket defended by Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics during the first quarter in Game Five of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center on June 13, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
2022 NBA Finals - Game Five
Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesSAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 13: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates after teammate Andrew Wiggins #22 made a basket and drew a foul during the second quarter against the Boston Celtics in Game Five of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center on June 13, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
2022 NBA Finals - Game Five
Thearon W. Henderson/Getty ImagesSAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 13: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors shoots a three point basket against Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics during the first quarter in Game Five of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center on June 13, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
2022 NBA Finals - Game Five
Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesSAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 13: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics and Otto Porter Jr. #32 of the Golden State Warriors react to a play during the second quarter in Game Five of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center on June 13, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
2022 NBA Finals - Game Five
Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesSAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 13: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket against Marcus Smart #36 and Robert Williams III #44 of the Boston Celtics during the first quarter in Game Five of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center on June 13, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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.
