The Celtics had a terrible first quarter. They came out sluggish, and it looked like they weren’t ready for this pivotal game 5. Draymond Green was great today, having a great overall game. He started off aggressive from the beginning getting key buckets in the first quarter. He passed, got offensive rebounds, and created shots for his teammates. As usual, he eventually fouled out later in the game. He already fouled out two times before this game, but he had a significant impact on this game. The Warriors also got into foul trouble with 8 minutes left in the second quarter. Generally, teams would try to attack the paint if the other team is in foul trouble. But there were many possessions in a row where the Celtics took and missed many threes.
Steph Curry only scored 16 points and had 0 threes tonight. His record of 233 regular-season games and 132 playoff games with at least one three-pointer ended. Curry was 0/9 from downtown. Luckily others stepped up for the Warriors in Curry’s off night. Klay Thompson finally had a decent game having 21 points on effective shooting. Gary Payton III had a great game having 15 points on 6/8 shooting, 3 steals, and an +/- of 16, which was the highest on the team.
The Celtics were down by 12 points in the first half, but they made a huge run in the third quarter to eventually take the lead. They made consecutive threes one after another. The game went back and forth, with each team scoring buckets. Jordan Poole capped off the third quarter by making a catch and shoot three-pointer at the buzzer, barely getting it off his hands to regain a one-point lead at the end of the third quarter.
Andrew Wiggins saved the Warriors tonight by having 26 points and playing great defense in the 4th quarter. His smothering defense on Jayson Tatum was critical today, forcing him to miss shots. Tatum still had a decent game by getting 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists. Celtics turnovers killed them tonight. Jaylen Brown struggled today, only shooting 5/18 from the field and having 18 points. Marcus Smart had 20 points but wasn’t effective on the defensive end. Many players like Tatum, Brown, and Smart had more turnovers than assists in this game. Whenever it felt that a bucket in this possession would extend the Celtics’ lead, turnovers would lead to easy Warriors buckets. That can’t happen for the Celtics to win games.
Al Horford has been a disappointment ever since game 1. He hasn’t had an impact on this series since. He also hadn’t that type of an impact he generally had in the Celtics series against the Nets, Bucks, and Heat. Maybe it’s the Warriors’ small ball? Horford had an +/- of -19, which was the worst on the team. He hasn’t had that type of impact that he had in game 1 of these finals and the rest of these playoffs.
Turnovers were also crucial for the Celtics the entire series, just like I said. They had 18 turnovers, while the Warriors only had 6. Game 5 was a game that the Celtics had to win and take advantage of because this was a game where Curry struggled. Even though the series isn’t over, this loss in game 5 was a stinger for Boston. Losing game 5 was also the first time the Celtics had lost back-to-back games this entire postseason. They had chances to pull away and win this game, but they fumbled the whole thing.
For the Celtics, game 6 is now a win or go home. An interesting thing about the Celtics in their 22 finals appearance is that they have never lost three straight finals games. The Celtics also haven’t lost in elimination games this postseason. Will the Celtics force a game 7 back in San Franciso, or will the Warriors win their 4th championship in 8 years?