A stunning performance by Stephen Curry powered the Golden State Warriors to a seventh NBA Finals crown on Thursday, securing a 103-90 victory over the Boston Celtics to clinch a 4-2 series victory. Warriors talisman Curry produced another masterpiece with 34 points, seven assists and seven rebounds as Golden State clinched their fourth title in eight years to silence Boston’s storied TD Garden.
The 34-year-old Curry was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player after the win — the first time a four-time NBA champion has won the award.
“I’m so proud of our group, I thank God every day that I get to play this game with some amazing people,” an emotional Curry said afterward.
“Especially after everything we’ve been through in the last three years.”
The win completed a dramatic return to the top of the NBA for the Warriors, who had the worst record in the league just two seasons ago as the franchise struggled with injuries and the departure of key personnel.
“At the beginning of the season nobody thought we’d be here — except everybody on this court right now. It’s surreal,” Curry added.
“We were far from it. We hit rock bottom with injuries and a long road of work ahead, trying to fill the right parts with the right guys.
“You never take it for granted because you never know when you’ll be back here.”
An elated Warriors coach Steve Kerr admitted the fourth championship of his Golden State coaching tenure was the most unexpected.
“It might be most unlikely,” Kerr said. “But I hang around superstars — and if you hang around superstars, good things happen.”
Boston coach Ime Udoka said his team paid the price for another high turnover count.
“Once again you look at the numbers,” said Udoka. “Give them 20-plus in turnovers, 20-plus in second-chance points. Don’t really give ourselves that many chances.”
Udoka said the Celtics locker room was “emotional” after the loss.
“It’s going to hurt,” Udoka said. “It’s going to hurt for a while…Obviously getting to your ultimate goal and coming up a few games short is going to hurt.
“There are a lot of guys out there, very emotional right now.”
– Quick Start –
Curry, an ever-present throughout the highs and lows of the Warriors’ journey since 2015, led a balanced offensive effort as Golden State became just the second visiting team to lift the trophy on Boston’s home court since the 1985 Los Angeles Lakers.
Andrew Wiggins had 18 points, six rebounds, four steals and three blocks in a great all-around display, while veterans Klay Thompson and Draymond Green each chipped in with 12 points. Jordan Poole added 15 off the bench.
Jaylen Brown led Boston in scoring with 34 points and Al Horford added 19 points.
A pulsating game swung decisively in Golden State’s favor in the first two quarters.
The Celtics, trying to force a game seven, started with intent, jumping out to an early 14-2 lead against a Warriors team.
But Boston’s fast start was indicative of a spectacular outburst by Golden State, who tightened their defense to secure key stops and then began to find goals at the other end.
After cutting Boston’s lead to six points at 22-16, the Warriors pulled away, with Green, Curry and Poole all hitting three-pointers to give Golden State a 27-22 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Two more Poole three-pointers in the early moments of the second quarter helped the Warriors build a 15-point lead, leading 37-22 after a 21-0 run that was the largest run in NBA Finals history.
The Warriors held a 15-point advantage going into halftime, leading 54-39 at the break.
Curry ominously looked increasingly comfortable out of pressure, and a 28-foot three-pointer gave the Warriors their biggest lead of the night in the third quarter for a 22-point run to a 72-50 lead.
But Boston refused to surrender, and Horford brought the Garden crowd to its feet and a free throw brought the Celtics to within nine points of the Warriors at 74-65.
Green settled the Warriors’ nerves with an ice-cold jumper from 21 feet to help secure the Warriors’ 76-66 lead heading into the final quarter.
The Celtics once again chipped away at the Warriors’ lead, but every time they reached single digits, Golden State was able to find a big play to extend their lead.
A key passage came midway through the fourth. A Brown three-pointer narrowed the Warriors’ lead to just eight points at 86-78, but Wiggins then hit a corner 3 to make it 89-78 and Green followed with a dunk to put the Warriors up 13.
The margin held as the Warriors celebrated their seventh title.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is generated automatically from a syndicated feed.)
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