The Boston Celtics rode a historic fourth quarter on the way to victory in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, defeating the Golden State Warriors 120-108.
The Celtics now lead the best-of-seven series 1-0.
Check out the full box score here.
ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
When they needed it most, Boston's role-players stepped up big to over come a 12-point fourth quarter deficit and take home the victory in Game 1.
Boston squandered a two-point halftime lead in the third quarter, being outscored by Golden State 38-24 in the frame, and heading into the fourth quarter looking like a team that just wanted to build positive momentum headed into Game 2. That's when Derrick White, Payton Pritchard and Al Horford flipped the script on Golden State, putting the team on their backs by hitting big shot after big shot in a huge fourth quarter performance.
It was White in particular, who went unconscious from 3-point range, hitting five of his eight attempts from beyond the arc, and who's big shot making kept Boston in it on the offensive end. Boston would finish the fourth quarter shooting 9-for-12 from 3-point land, going on an 17-0 run at one point to build a 14-point lead. The Celtics outscored the Warriors by 24 points in the frame.
Defensively, as it has been all season, it was a group effort as Boston made Golden State uncomfortable by running them off their spots and forcing them to play on the move. The Warriors made just one 3-point field goal in the frame, their lowest in any quarter this postseason.
STARS OF THE GAME
-- Derrick White had the game of his life in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Boston's sixth man scored 21 points on 6-for-11 shooting, adding three assists throughout the contest. His +24 net rating led the game.
-- Al Horford, a 15-year veteran making his first appearance in the NBA Finals, was the Celtics leading scorer Thursday, in a game where they desperately needed him to put up big numbers. He finished with a team high 26 points, more than doubling the output of a slumping Jayson Tatum.
-- Marcus Smart scored 18 points, grabbed five rebounds, dished out four assists and swiped a pair of steals off Golden State in a classic performance.
WAGER WATCH
If bettors wanted some early betting action, taking Steph Curry to score the first field goal of the game would have resulted in a quick pay day. Curry, who had +600 odds to make the first shot from the field according to DraftKings Sportsbook, sank a 3-pointer to kickstart a 21-point first quarter. A $100 bet on that to happen would have netted a total pay out of $700.
UP NEXT
The Celtics and the Warriors will continue the NBA Finals with Game 2 taking place Sunday. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET at Chase Center.
