The Boston Celtics’ very own three-headed dragon in Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart led the home team to a crucial 116-100 win over the Golden State Warriors in Game 3 of the NBA Finals at TD Garden on Wednesday night.
Brown continued to press home his Finals MVP case by scoring 17 of his 27 points in the first quarter, while Tatum added 26 to help the Celtics bounce back from a disappointing Game 2 loss and take a crucial lead in the series. Marcus Smart contributed 24 points and spearheaded a characteristically defensive effort that held the Warriors to a dismal 11 points in the fourth quarter.
The three Celtics stars - who combined for 77 points - became the first trio since Los Angeles Lakers icons Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Cooper and Magic Johnson in 1984 to each record at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists together in an NBA Finals game. After the win, Smart said the Celtics responded from being punched in the mouth in Game 2, while Tatum added: “I wanted to impose my will on the game and be aggressive.
“Whether I miss shots or not, I'm going to keep playing. My team-mates believe in me to make the right play to get the best shot. All that matters is that we got the win.”
It was ultimately a night to forget for Golden State, even with star point guard Steph Curry dropping 31 points - including six three-pointers. The two-time MVP had 15 points in a stirring third quarter for the Warriors but was injured late in the fourth after Al Horford rolled into his leg as the players battled for a loose ball. Head coach Steve Kerr didn’t comment on the injury, but suggested the Warriors were concerned about its severity.
Draymond Green fouled out in the fourth quarter when Curry was hurt on the play involving Horford. The 32-year-old was frustrated the whistle had not blown, and he left the floor to cap a wretched night for the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year, who finished with two points and four rebounds.
Klay Thompson finally impressed in this series with five threes as he finished with 25 points, but the Warriors’ shooting couldn’t withstand the Celtics and their physicality as they surged to a 47-31 rebounding advantage.
With a fanbase which has been starved of an NBA Finals match since 2010, the Celtics flew out the gate in front of a raucous and atmospheric TD Garden and took an 12-point lead into half time after shooting 57% from the field. After turning the ball over 19 times, the Celtics’ ball movement was much-improved and allowed for plenty of open shots and preferred 1-on-1 matchups.
While the boisterous crowd jeering Green from the first whistle, Boston could only watch as their hard-earned lead dissipated as Curry’s four-point play following a flagrant 1 foul on Horford was paired with a three by Otto Porter to give the Warriors a stunning 83-82 advantage. Boston recovered to take a 93-89 edge into the fourth before they outscored Golden State 23-11 down the stretch.
Ultimately, the Warriors - who are competing in their sixth Finals in the last eight seasons - struggled to match Boston's physicality throughout and couldn’t follow up their impressive Game 2 win with another triumph. They had no method of stopping - or even slowing down - Robert Williams, who has proved to be Boston’s X-factor when he is fit enough to play.
Williams, affectionately nicknamed Time Lord, snagged 10 rebounds and helped the Celtics crush the Warriors in the paint by a score of 52-26. Horford also defended brilliantly and covered every inch of the floor in an admirable effort, finishing with 11 points, eight rebounds, six assists, a block and a steal.
It was the effort from every area of the floor that made the difference for Boston. Horford beat his Game 2 tally with his very first shot as he nailed a tree-pointer after scoring just two points on Sunday night, but he was also flying about like a man possessed – defending fiendishly, boxing out and chasing rebounds. The 36-year-old got 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists as well as a block and a steal.
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Rather than being riddled with the turnovers and poor decisions that plagued Game 2, the Celtics - who are now 7-0 following a loss during these NBA Playoffs - drove into the paint purposefully and effectively. They utilised their impressive ball movement to find the most open shooter, who rarely let them down.
The previous 39 times teams have split the first two games of the Finals, the winner of Game 3 went on to win the series a staggering 82% of the time. In Game 3, the inexperienced Warriors couldn’t contend with the lively Celtics, who are now just two wins from an NBA-record 18th championship.
All eyes on Game 4 in Boston.
