Warriors-Celtics live updates: Another 3rd quarter explosion helps Dubs
win Game 2, even series
The Warriors need a win to avoid going to Boston down two games to the
Celtics in the NBA Finals.
>Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum drives toward the basket as Golden
State Warriors guard Jordan Poole defends during the fourth quarter in
Game 1 of basketball’s NBA Finals, Thursday, June 2, 2022, in San
Francisco. (Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
>Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum drives toward the basket as Golden
State Warriors guard Jordan Poole defends during the fourth quarter in
Game 1 of basketball’s NBA Finals, Thursday, June 2, 2022, in San
Francisco. (Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
By ALEX SIMON | asimon@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: June 5, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. | UPDATED: June 6, 2022 at 4:16 a.m.
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2022/06/05/warriors-celtics-live-updates-dubs-need-to-regroup-to-avoid-big-deficit-in-nba-finals/

To view the live updates on your mobile device click here.

GAME ESSENTIALS: Celtics (51-31) vs. Warriors (53-29), at 5 p.m. (PT).
TV: ABC

ODDS: Warriors -4.5. OVER/UNDER: 215.

FINALS SERIES UPDATE: Celtics lead, 1-0. LAST PLAYOFF MEETING: Celtics
won 1964 NBA Finals 4-1.

A shocking fourth quarter collapse handed the Warriors a loss in Game 1
– and now has their backs firmly against the wall for Game 2.

The Celtics outscored the Warriors 40-16 in the fourth quarter to steal
Game 1 at the Chase Center. Boston had massive shooting nights from Al
Horford, Marcus Smart and Derrick White, who combined to go 15-for-23
from 3-point range to help the Celtics take the game.

Since Steve Kerr took over as coach in 2014-15, It’s only the third time
that the Warriors lost the first game of a playoff series, and the
second time at home (other time was the 2016 Western Conference finals
against the Thunder). Only the main Warriors core of Steph Curry, Klay
Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala are still around from that
series, but they’re emphasizing that it is not time to panic.

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But even if not panicking, there is undoubtedly a sense of urgency and
desperation for the Warriors. While Curry and Andrew Wiggins were both
really solid on Thursday, Thompson and Green didn’t play great. And
perhaps more than anyone, they’ll need their youngest star, Jordan
Poole, to rise to the occasion and have a much better game than he did
on Thursday.

Golden State could also use some of the defensive tenacity that Gary
Payton II brings, though he was not used in Game 1 as he still recovers
from his elbow fracture. He said he has no discomfort and could play 48
minutes, if asked.

Does Payton play at all on Sunday? And if he does, how impactful can he
be? Can Green, Thompson and/or Poole step up after their lackluster
efforts in Game 1? And can the Warriors avoid dropping both home games
to start a series and digging a likely insurmountable hole for themselves?

Follow along as reporters Madeline Kenney, Shayna Rubin and Can Inman
and columnist Dieter Kurtenbach break down those questions and more in
Game 2 of the NBA Finals.