Splash Brothers Lead the Way in Finals Rematch Victory

The last time the Golden State Warriors faced off against the Boston Celtics, Warriors superstar Stephen Curry collapsed in tears as the Warriors went on to win their seventh overall championship in franchise history.

Motivated by the disappointment from the 2021-22 NBA Finals, the Celtics came out this season with a vengeance. Despite the controversy surrounding then-head coach Ime Udoka, the Celtics looked sharper than ever and were on pace for the most efficient offense in NBA history.

Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum was putting on another MVP-like season. Celtics forward Jaylen Brown and new addition Malcolm Brogdon reached the green and white to another level both offensively and defensively.

And so, the scene was set for an NBA Finals rematch. With the Warriors nearly unbeatable at home, it was bound to be a showdown.

“We were just excited, just the feeling of going against the team that you just played in the Finals, especially the way they’ve been playing this year,” Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr said. “They’ve just been so good, so dominant. I thought we needed a game like that. We’ve been a little bit stuck in the mud.”

The Warriors came out victorious 123-107.

Warriors guard Klay Thompson showed out in a vintage performance with 34 points on an efficient 14-for-26 shooting while nailing four 3-pointers. Curry dropped 32 points and drained six 3-pointers, including one from half court at the end of the first quarter.

“I think so,” Thompson said when asked about if staying off social media helped with his recent performances. “I learned that if you lurk, you’re going to get hurt. I wasn’t my best a couple of weeks ago, and there’s probably a lot of opinions on that.”

Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga continued his stellar play with 14 points off the bench, and the Warriors limited Tatum to just 18 points on 6-for-21 shooting despite missing forward Andrew Wiggins.

Thompson and Kuminga both took turns on Tatum, and Thompson set the tone defensively in the early going. Tatum went one-for-six in the first 12 minutes of action and was caught in foul trouble as well.

“I cherish being able to move out there and play defense and compete, more than I ever have before,” Thompson said. “When you face the best, your game usually reflects that.”

The opening minutes of the game were slow and methodical, as both teams were figuring each other out. The Warriors were cold offensively to start, but a Curry 3-pointer in transition got them going. Curry followed that up with another layup and the Warriors were up 30-22.

Then, as ESPN’s broadcast continued to show Curry’s infamous pre-game routine of shooting shots from the logo, Curry nailed a step-back 31-footer from the logo to end the first quarter emphatically.

In the second, Kuminga’s development was on display. Kuminga has shown more discipline on the defensive end and gained the trust of the Warriors coaching staff. Offensively, Kuminga is finding his rhythm as well, as he nailed a 3-pointer from the left wing to increase the Warriors lead 42-31.

“Guys off the bench are starting to play and they’re assuming their roles,” Kerr said. “Our defense seems to be getting better.”

However, Brogdon came off the bench and immediately made an impact for the Celtics. He scored on a second-chance opportunity and already had 12 points in nine minutes of action.

The Celtics tried clawing their way back into the game and had the lead down to eight, but a Thompson-Curry pick and roll gave Thompson enough space to nail one of his four threes of the night.

“We were able to flush that one in Salt Lake,” Thompson said. “It’s always great to respond with a great performance and we did that tonight.”

The Warriors transition defense was also on point, as they didn’t allow the Celtics to gain any separation and took care of the ball in the first half.

The Celtics guarded the Warriors perimeter players the same way in the Finals — with a drop coverage. Thompson took advantage and nailed a midrange jumper to give him 22 points in the first half.

But, the Celtics adjusted and put out a smaller lineup that consisted of Tatum, Brown, Williams, Brogdon and guard Derrick White. This eliminated any drop coverage for the Warriors as the Celtics were able to switch on screens and cause some problems.

Brown converted on a layup after the Celtics forced another turnover and ended the second half on a 7-3 run for the Celtics with the score at 68-63.

To start the third quarter, Tatum continued to struggle from the field as Thompson continued to hound him on the defensive end. Curry nailed another 3-pointer off the curl action to increase the Warriors lead to 73-66.

“Guys were just locked in today,” Warriors guard Jordan Poole said. “The whole 48, from the jump ball.”

The Warriors were also more aggressive, as they attempted 20 free throws for the rest of the game. The Warriors are dead last in free throws made and attempted, which is something to keep in mind as the season continues.

The Warriors maintained control of the game despite the Celtics attempts to claw back. Kuminga converted on a layup to give the Warriors a 14-point advantage, their largest of the night.

The Celtics tried one last furious comeback attempt in the fourth quarter. The refs missed a travel on Brown who took advantage and converted on a midrange jumpshot. On the next possession, Brown made a 3-pointer to give him 27 points and trimmed the lead to eight.

However, the Warriors continued to catch the Celtics sleeping in transition and Warriors forward Draymond Green made a layup to increase the Warriors lead to 107-97.

“The good thing for us is that no one is running away in the west,” Kerr said. “I’m hoping that this is a sign that we’re getting there. It’ll be a great test for us to go on the road against quality opponents and see if we can have a successful trip. I like where we’re heading.”

Warriors center Kevon Looney also made some impactful plays in the end. A putback layup, a block and an assist to Green were all set up by Looney as he continued his solid play and had 14 rebounds on the night. Curry made back-to-back baskets as well, effectively ending the game early.

Besides the back and forth play in the first quarter, the Warriors maintained firm control of the game and came out victorious. Unlike Game One of the 2021-22 NBA Finals — the Warriors remained solid on defense and closed out the game.

Up next for the Warriors is another primetime matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks on Dec. 13.

(Photo credit: Stephen Lam/AP)