The Boston Celtics have struck first in the NBA finals against Golden State Warriors on the back of Jaylen Brown’s fourth-quarter charge.
Brown fuelled a comeback to score 24 points while Al Horford hit six 3-pointers as the Celtics rode the most lopsided fourth quarter in NBA Finals history to record a 120-108 win over the Warriors in Game 1 on Thursday.
Horford finished with 26 points as the Celtics outscored the Warriors 40-16 in the final 12 minutes after trailing by 15 points late in the third quarter.
Boston made their first seven tries from long distance in the fourth and wound up nine of 12 beyond the arc over the final 12 minutes as almost everybody got involved in the 3-point flurry.
Jayson Tatum was the lone Celtics regular who struggled offensively, finishing three for 17.
Stephen Curry scored 34 points in his return to the NBA’s big stage for the first time in three years, but the Warriors couldn’t sustain momentum from a 38-point third quarter that put them ahead 92-80 going into the final 12 minutes.
1dawg
Roar Rookie
Dubs in 8
Lara
Guest
Huge!
.kraM
Roar Rookie
Daddy Al delivering on the big stage. And normally when Tatum has an off shooting night it means the Celtics are toast but career high assists means he still played a huge role.