The Boston Celtics came into Game 4 of the NBA Finals with the chance to take a 3-1 lead over the Golden State Warriors. In front of a packed and loud TD Garden crowd, there was hope that they just might pull it off.
Each team entered the night as a complete bill of health with all their rotation players available. Robert Williams continues to play through left knee soreness and Stephen Curry was ready to go despite an apparent ankle injury last game.
The C’s landed the initial punch in the opening quarter, building an 11-4 cushion behind a pair of triples from Jayson Tatum and some high-energy defensive plays from the likes of Time Lord, which included a marquee block on a Curry layup.
The Dubs would battle back into the game relatively quickly with the greatest shooter of all-time putting on a show. Steph had12 points in the first quarter alone. The end of the quarter was a Rob kick-out assist to a Grant Williams corner office three-ball.
Celts led 28-27 to close the first.
The second quarter saw the Warriors get off to a quick start with a couple of baskets from Jordan Poole and Boston hung tough to eventually take the lead through the brilliance of Jaylen Brown who had eight points in the period.
At halftime, it was a five-point lead for Beantown at 54-49. In the third quarter, Golden State ended up outscoring the Boston Celtics by six to take a one-point lead heading into the final frame.
Curry added 14 points in the third quarter to bring his total to a whopping 33 points. The fourth was a game of inches that soon felt like miles with the way the Warriors would eventually pull away through the smooth 3-point shooting and points off of giveaways.
In the end, the Dubs would beat the Boston Celtics 107-97, to tie up the series at two games a piece.
Here are 3 takeaways from the C’s loss to the Warriors in Game 4: