Wayne Lumbasi
The Boston Celtics stole home-court advantage from the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday, coming from behind to win 120-108 in San Francisco.
Boston used balanced scoring. Five double-digit players and three players with at least 20 points – and made it through a tough night of Jayson Tatum’s shooting that was 3 of 17 from the field.
Al Horford scored 26 points, Jaylen Brown added 24 and Derrick White scored 21 off the bench for the Celtics, who are now 8-2 away in the 2022 playoffs. The victory was no less than Boston’s gutsy never-say-die approach deserved. Boston twice recovered from double-digit deficits either side of halftime when it looked as if the Warriors were poised to cut loose.
For the Warriors, this stage proved to be too big for young guard Jordan Poole. Stephen Curry shot the lights out with seven threes en route to 34 points, but ultimately, they were let down in the last quarter as the team went cold from the field. The loss is Golden State’s first at home in this playoff series.
The Celtics’ comeback was the biggest in the finals after three quarters since Michael Jordan’s Bulls overcame a 15-point deficit to beat the Trail Blazers in Game 6 in 1992. 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 have the chance to level the series in game two in San Francisco on Sunday.
