In the end, the point guard at San Francisco’s Chase Center was the most successful shooter of the game with 29 points (15 of them from beyond the three-point line).
With Golden State leading 52-50 at halftime, the California team really sped up in the third quarter, scoring 21 points more than Boston. No matter what the Celtics tried, Golden State always had the better answer – and shot in hot, especially from beyond the three-point line.
Theis’ despair
Symbolic of this was an attempt by Jordan Poole, who found his way into the basket from well behind the line of three via the raised hand of Theis, who was actually defending properly. Even then the German shook his head in exasperation. A few seconds later things got even worse for the Celtics when Poole again put the ball in the basket with the final siren of the third quarter from the center line. The resulting 64-87 deficit robbed the New England team of hope.
Coach Ime Udoka rested his stars, mostly relying on the reserve players. With 14 minutes, Theis got significantly more playing time than in the opening success three days ago. He was only allowed to play there for just under six minutes, but at least converted a three-point shot. This sense of achievement was not granted to the 30-year-old that evening. His only throw in the entire game bounced off the edge of the ring and back into the field. After all, the German, who worked his way under the basket as usual, had five rebounds and one assist. Jason Tatum was the best thrower on his team with 28 points.
The series is now 1:1. On the night of Thursday (from 0 a.m. on DAZN and in the NBA League Pass) the third game continues in Boston – and Theis’ dream of being the only second German ever to win the NBA title with his team. So far, only the German basketball legend Dirk Nowitzki, who defeated the Miami Heat with the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 final series, had managed to do this.
No contact with Nowitzki
Theis, who has primarily made a name for himself as a team reserve player in his career, does not like to hear the associated comparisons. “You can’t compare that to Dirk’s career, which is completely different. But of course it’s also an honor to be named in the same sentence and to play for the championship. Hopefully we can talk about it even more positively a few games later,” says the native of Salzgitter.
He currently has no contact with Nowitzki. “I also think because he himself knows how to prepare for finals and tries to focus on that. It’s maybe a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”