(CNN Philippines, June 3) — The Boston Celtics continued their postseason mastery on the road after beating the Golden State Warriors, 120-108, Friday in Game 1 of the NBA Finals at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California.
The Celtics have won eight in 10 of their road games in this year’s playoffs.
Al Horford — in his finals debut — led the balanced attack for Boston with 26 points, while Jaylen Brown contributed 24 points including 10 in the crucial stretch of the contest.
The Celtics were trailing at the end of the third quarter, 92-80, then turned things around with a 9-0 burst that quickly sliced the deficit to a single possession at the early minutes of the final frame.
The Warriors had no response to Boston’s onslaught in the payoff period as the Celtics outscored Golden State, 40-16 — the most lopsided quarter margin in NBA Finals history.
Boston is looking to capture its record-setting 18th title, which would break the tie with longtime rivals Los Angeles Lakers, and are now just three wins away from doing it.
Derrick White came off the bench with 21 points while Smart finished with 18 points for the Celtics who won despite an off night for young superstar Jayson Tatum, who shot just 3-for-17 from the field and tallied 12 points.
Steph Curry dropped 34 markers in his return to the NBA’s biggest stage for the first time in three years.
Game 2 is slated on June 6 at 8 a.m. (Philippine time).
