NBA Finals 2022 – Stephen Curry brings the Golden State Warriors back with an even series

The Golden Empire Warriors built a dynasty of beautifully branded basketball players based on movement, passing, and creativity. Taking a 2-1 lead and desperate for a home win at TD Garden in Boston, the Warriors showed off that precious bit of choreography but managed to pull off a tough run. Win 107-97 knot NBA Finals as the series returns to San Francisco for Game 5 on Monday (9 p.m. ET on ABC).

For a team that shares the ball as a quality that defines their style, the Warriors rely heavily on Stephen the curry once again. Twice a brilliant MVP on Friday night. Against the NBA’s top-rated defense that has made the list of the game’s most popular shooters, Curry finds the tiniest gaps in the Celtics’ pick-and-roll range to unleash round shots from distance. far and those who run acrobically from dribbling. He finished with 43 points in the 14v26 shot, which included 7 to 14 from outside the arc and 8 to 9 from a straight line. The smallest starter for either team also had 10 rebounds in 41 minutes.

The Warriors have traditionally had a lot of attacking play during their reign, but they have struggled to find consistent shots beyond Curry’s record. Golden State has had to rely on Curry, with a more traditional use of pick-and-roll games to maximize his shot chances. Curry worked tirelessly in Game 4 with isolated dribbles ahead of any favorable game – and the Celtics’ solid defense showed little of that.

For Curry, Game 4 was a display of both prolific volume and dramatic timeliness. The 3-step backward pointer he drew from a return pass from Draymond Green gave the Warriors a six-point lead with two minutes remaining and silenced the boisterous Garden crowd.

For Curry, Friday night was the seventh Final of his career with seven 3-pointers. Only one other player in NBA history has more than one (Ray Allen with a double), according to ESPN Stats & Information. Game 4 was his second-highest yield ever in a Finals and the first time a keeper scored the 40-point, 10-point bounce since Dwyane Wade in the 2006 Finals.

In the final minutes, the Warriors were still trying to craft a gem from their patented playbook when the Celtics blocked Curry from Green’s screen. As he has done countless times in this era, Curry sent a two-team pass to the Open Green, who found Looney for a high-low pass – the Warriors ballet propelled the team to the lead. up five points after just over a minute on the left.

The Celtics, who were in the lead for most of the game, looked as if they were about to get their hands on a long-awaited signature performance Jayson Tatum, who got into the game averaging 22 points in the first three games with a truly astounding 48.4 shot. Both Tatum and Jaylen Brown Solid effort – decisive, decisive attack with smart play. However, in the closing time frame, the Celtics simply couldn’t convert their chances, as they beat the 4th half 28-19. They missed seven of their last eight shots as Golden State ended the game 17-3.

While Game 4 will certainly have a prominent page in Curry’s personal scrapbook, it’s not necessarily material for the Warriors time capsule. Green continued to struggle and was benched for most of the fourth inning. While Klay Thompson sinks a 3-key pointer to the end, he continues to struggle to find and create looks. Swingman Otto Porter Jr. (2 points, spin 0 to 2), who starts in the center Kevon Looney, failed to produce the well-timed offense he delivered in last post-season games. And 20 assists overall is a welcome treat for a team that won a championship by passing.

Still, Warriors will fly home to San Francisco as a favorite for the first time in a week, despite its unsightly flaws and festering problems. Curry is one of those few NBA players who can make you forget what’s missing and celebrate what’s there.