Tolton Rundown: NBA Finals

What a game last night in San Francisco: The Celtics snatched game 1 from the Warrior’s grasp in what was an unbelievable 4th quarter. 

This year’s NBA Finals matchup between the Golden State Warriors and the Boston Celtics is probably seen as one of the best matchups of the decade. The Boston Celtics haven’t seen the Finals since they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2010. Ever since that year, the Celtics have never been able to reach this point. This year is different for the Celtics. This Celtics team has been able to defy the odds and reach the NBA Finals despite the media and all the drama that has occurred throughout this year’s season. 

In this series, the Boston Celtics are being very underlooked. Almost all the major sports networks have the Golden State Warriors winning the 2022 NBA Finals because of the experience that floods their team. This year’s Warriors team has a combined 123 games of Finals experience while this year’s Celtics have none. Based on this statistic, it would make sense why analysts would have the Warriors taking this year’s trophy. This would all change after the Celtics shocked the world in game 1 last night. 

The Celtics and Warriors were neck and neck last night throughout game 1. Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, came out hot last night raining in 5 3’s and finished with 21 points at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter came along and the Celtics managed to slow Curry down and were able to hold him to 0 points in the second. 

The Celtics went into halftime up 56-54 after a really solid second quarter. The Celtics have had trouble for years in the third quarter and this showed on Thursday night. The Celtics came out slow and started to miss shots, which resulted in the Warriors going up by 12 entering the fourth quarter. At this point in the game, the Celtics only had a 4% chance of winning the game. The game was not over yet. 

Derrick White, Al Horford, Marcus Smart, and Jaylen Brown absolutely took over in the fourth. The Celtics went 7 for 7 from three-point land and ended the quarter on a 40-16 run which sealed the victory for the C’s. The Celtics became the first team in NBA Finals history to win a game by 10 or more points (120-108)  after being down more than 10 points (92-80) entering the fourth quarter.

Despite the Celtic’s best player, Jayson Tatum, who only shot 3-17 from the field and only had 12 points, the Celtics were able to overcome Stephen Curry and the Warriors in game 1 on the road in San Francisco. 

Horford, who is playing in his first career NBA Finals, finished with 28 points resulting in him being an X-factor last night for Boston. Derrick White also rose to the challenge tacking on 21 points with a huge fourth quarter. Jaylen Brown also showed off his skill by tallying 10 points in the fourth and finishing with 24 for the game. Last, Marcus Smart, who showed off his excellent defensive ability also tacked on 18 points with two huge 3’s that iced the game for the Celtics. 

This fourth-quarter performance from Boston has completely shifted the trajectory of this series, and if they keep it up, banner 18 will most likely be hanging in the TD Garden at the end of the season.