NBA Finals: Warriors Level Series After Beating Celtics
Stephen Curry scored 29 points as the Golden State Warriors dominated the second half of Game Two of the NBA Finals on Sunday, beating the visiting Boston Celtics 107-88 to level the best-of-seven series at 1-1.
The Celtics started the contest right where they left off at the end of Game One, using their superior size to frustrate Warriors shooters and dropping three-pointers to take an early nine-point lead.
However, 11 first-half turnovers by the Celtics gave the Warriors life and the tense first half ended with an Andrew Wiggins layup that gave the Warriors a two-point lead.
Curry came out firing in the third quarter and Jordan Poole’s three pointer at the buzzer from well beyond the arc capped a 35-14 third-quarter run that put the home team up 87-64.
The Warriors continued to play physical defence and make shots to extend the lead over the final 12 minutes, and avoid a fourth-quarter collapse like the one they suffered in Game One. Curry led the way for the Warriors, draining five three pointers to go with six rebounds and four assists while playing outstanding defence.
“Steph was breathtaking in that third quarter,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “Not just the shotmaking but the defensive effort. He just doesn’t get enough credit for his level of conditioning, physicality and defence.”
“People go at him to try to wear him down because they know how important he is to us offensively. And it is pretty dramatic, the difference in Steph’s strength and physicality between now and when I first got here eight years ago. The guy is amazing; he just keeps working.”
It was all Warriors in the second half as the Celtics struggled on offence, committing 19 turnovers that led to 33 Warriors points and shooting just 36% from the field.
“For us, that was a little disappointing, to give up 33 points off of 19 turnovers,” Celtics head coach Ime Udoka said.
“That’s kind of been a constant theme in the playoffs. When that happens, we’re in trouble.”
The pivotal Game Three is set for Wednesday in Boston.
Chidi Nwoke/NBA/Reuters.
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