Scoreboard
Warriors 107, Celtics 97 (Series tied 2-2)
What went down
Through the first three games of this series, the Boston Celtics have always had a response for whatever wrinkle the Golden State Warriors threw at them. Even in Game 2, it felt like the Celtics had the situation under control.
In Game 4, it finally happened for Golden State. The best player in the series showed up and imposed his will on the game. This was the Steph Curry game.
This was another slugfest as Boston imposed the physicality that has become indicative of this series. Boston controlled the pace for the first three quarters, weathering any storm the Warriors brewed.
By the fourth quarter, it was time for Curry to step up. He was the only reason the game was close late. Draymond Green played so bad, he was benched for the majority of the fourth quarter. Klay Thompson was again off the mark.
35 points for Steph as he gives the @warriors a 3-point lead on ABC!@warriors 97 | celtics 94
— NBA (@NBA) June 11, 2022
3:41 remaining in Q4#NBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV 🏆 pic.twitter.com/vDuFXDC4mC
This was a Steph masterclass – he gave Boston fits in every way imaginable. He crushed them on pick-and-rolls and devastated their off-ball defense with his constant relocating. With Golden State up three with less than two minutes to go, Curry drilled the dagger.
Still Chef Curry with the shot 💧#NBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV 🏆 pic.twitter.com/BxX3utq5r7
— NBA (@NBA) June 11, 2022
Boston has hosted some of the most historic performances in basketball history. Not just Celtics legends, but those who visit the parquet floor have etched their name in basketball lore there. Today, Steph Curry added to his legend with his own Boston moment.
Big-time baller
Curry finished with 43 points, his second-best output in the NBA Finals. He also had 10 rebounds and seven 3s to add to his virtuoso performance.
The Warriors had no one else going offensively aside from Curry but they do deserve credit for playing solid team defense. They coaxed the Celtics into tough shots down the stretch of the game, allowing Boston to score just three points in the final five minutes of the game.
Andrew Wiggins was crucial today, tallying 17 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. He made the Warriors’ small-ball lineups work by stepping up to the challenge of bodying guys like Al Horford and Robert Williams.
What he said
Draymond Green has more fouls (17) than points (15) in the finals. Even his mom is wondering what happened to one of the best role players ever.
Please ppl stop asking me what’s wrong with Dray… I DONT KNOW! Maybe this is a CLONE! Lmbo WHERE IS THE Draymond that helped get us here!! Hmmmm I have never seen this either!
— Mary B (@BabersGreen) June 11, 2022
Did you see that?
In non-Finals news, the Charlotte Hornets have hired Kenny Atkinson as their new head coach. Atkinson, currently an assistant coach with the Warriors, beat out Mike D’Antoni for the position.
Atkinson is best known for his time with the Brooklyn Nets. Pre-Kyrie and KD, Atkinson coached a rag-tag group led by Spencer Dinwiddie, D’Angelo Russell, and Caris LeVert to a playoff appearance in 2019.
