For the first time since 2010, there was an NBA Finals game in Boston – and the Celtics used the energy and enthusiasm of the spectators for a clear victory against the Golden State Warriors.
In the competitive final series for the NBAtitles are those Boston Celtics national basketball player Daniel Theis took the lead again.
Frenetically cheered by most of the 19,156 fans in the TD Garden the traditional team got a 116:100 against the Golden State Warriors and needs just two more wins to claim their 18th title – putting the Celtics ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers again sole record champion in the best basketball league in the world. “They deserved the win. They put a lot of pressure on us and it felt like we were swimming upstream most of the time,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr.
As in the first two games, the Celtics allowed themselves a long phase of weakness in the third quarter and fell behind after an 18-point lead. The game seemed to tip in favor of the Warriors. But in front of their home crowd, the Celtics regained the lead before the end of the period and went into the final quarter with four points more. Since they allowed the Warriors only eleven points. Robert Williams III had a terrific evening, posting four blocks.
Jaylen Brown Celtics top scorer
“We know this is a great team. It depends on how you answer. Just keep going,” said Jayson Tatum on US television. With 26 points, he was the second-best shooter on his team, Jaylen Brown had one point more.
The Warriors, on the other hand, were unable to use the momentum from the crystal-clear victory in the second game on Sunday and, like after the defeat at the start of the final series, are under pressure. Curry had a very strong third quarter again and scored a total of 31 points, but had to endure a lot physically and limped at times. Celtics professional Al Horford landed on his left leg in a tussle between several players for the ball. Curry had then lain on the floor for some time. “I’ll be fine. Maybe some pain tomorrow”said Curry. “I don’t feel like it’s bad.”
No minutes for Theis
In contrast to the first two matches of the final series, Theis was not used. Celtics coach Ime Udoka only sent eight different professionals onto the floor two minutes before the end, but he also did without Lower Saxony, who is only the second German after Dirk Nowitzki to win the NBA title.
The Celtics have been waiting for their 18th championship since 2008. The Warriors are hoping for the seventh title in their history and the first since 2018. Statistically, almost everything speaks for the Celtics: In the 39 final series so far, in which it was 1-1 after the first two games, the winner of game three won according to the information the AP news agency 82 percent of the championship. The exceptions include the Warriors, who lost 1-2 in 2015 to the Cleveland Cavaliers fell behind and then won the title.