As the horn sounded to end the third quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Finals—a brutal 12-minute stretch that saw the Warriors gash the Celtics’ vaunted defense for 38 points, turning a two-point halftime deficit into a double-digit lead—Ime Udoka stormed into his between quarter meeting with his assistants, the exasperation visible behind his mask. “We’re letting them go wherever they want to go,” Udoka grumbled to his staff. The numbers were ugly: Golden State shot 44% from the floor and 46.2% from three. Boston connected on just 37% of its shots while committing five turnovers.
On the bench, Jayson Tatum delivered a terse message to his teammates: We’ve been here before.
Here was on the receiving end of a third quarter shellacking. It was familiar ground. Boston was here in Game 3 of the conference semifinals, when Milwaukee ripped off a 34–17 third quarter. They were here in Game 1 of the conference finals, when Miami scorched the Celtics in the third 39–14. Third quarters have become a sinkhole of sorts for the Celtics in these playoffs, one they have found impossible to avoid.
