The Boston Celtics stole home-court advantage from the Warriors with their victory in Game 1. But playing at home during the playoffs this season hasn’t given the Celtics much momentum.
The Celtics are just 5-4 at the TD Garden, though they did win Game 7 against the Milwaukee Bucks at home in the second round of the 2022 NBA playoffs.
Even after losing to the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 in San Francisco, the Celtics are 8-3 on the road in the postseason.
USA TODAY Sports will have live updates and analysis throughout the night as Game 3 of the 2022 NBA Finals kicks off.
Game or honest mistake with the height of the rim?
Warriors play-by-play announcer Tim Roye tweeted: “Some of the Dubs complained about the height of the basket and they were right.” The Celtics’ game-day operations team pulled out a ladder and a 10-foot yardstick, and indeed, the ledge was a couple inches too high.
“It’s nice that the game starts at midnight,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr joked. “We’ll have plenty of time to fix it. I guess they’ll fix it then, right? It happens from time to time. The players have a very keen eye for it. The players can tell. I imagine somebody went out there.” He looked at him, he didn’t look good. So as long as they take care of him, then everything is fine.”
Before the conspiracy theorists put too much tin foil in their caps, Boston has to shoot that end of the floor in a half. Unless, of course, it was fixed after Golden State used that rim in the first half and before the Celtics shot it in the second half…
Robert Williams will start; Andre Iguodala ‘good to go’
Ime Udoka has given Robert Williams the go-ahead to start Game 3 for the Celtics. Williams was listed as questionable with right knee soreness, but Udoka said “everything is fine” when asked about his condition. Williams has averaged five points, four rebounds and three blocks in the NBA Finals against the Warriors.
Golden State’s Andre Iguodala (right knee swelling), who did not play in Game 2, Gary Payton II (returning from a broken left elbow) and Otto Porter Jr. (left foot soreness) are listed as questionable, but Warriors coach Steve Kerr said they are “good to go.”
Mike Breen returns for the ABC broadcast
After missing the first two games of the NBA Finals due to COVID protocols, Mike Breen returns to the ABC broadcast table for Wednesday night’s Game 3.
Breen had been sidelined after testing positive and missing Game 7 between Boston and Miami in the Eastern Conference finals and Games 1 and 2 of the Finals between Boston and Golden State.
Steph Curry’s defense — yes, defense — helped carry the Warriors into Game 2
Steph Curry did a lot of Steph Curry stuff.
He scored, rebounded, passed, defended. Yes, defended. He ran all over the court, impacting offensively and defensively. Yes, defensively. He excited the home crowd with his three-point shot.
He had 29 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. His performance in Game 2 of the NBA Finals led the Warriors to a 107-88 victory against the Celtics, evening the best-of-7 series at 1-1.
“He was amazing, and more importantly, his decision-making was excellent,” Warriors forward Draymond Green said. “He took the ball away. He didn’t drive into traffic. He took what the defense gave him.”
Leading the Warriors 35-14 in the third quarter, Curry scored 14 points, hit three 3-pointers and was a major factor during a 19-2 run late in the quarter that opened a six-point game and made it 87-64. The leader of the warriors made his way to the final square.
“Steph was impressive in that quarter,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “Not only because of the shooting, but also because of the defensive effort. He just doesn’t get enough credit for the level of conditioning, physicality and defense of him.”
As much as Curry’s offense is often the topic of conversation, his coach and teammates wanted to praise his defense.
“People attack him to try to wear him down because they know how important he is to us offensively, and it’s pretty dramatic the difference in Steph’s strength and physique on her body now than it was eight years ago when I first came here. time,” Kerr. said. “So the guy is amazing. He keeps working on his game, his strength, his conditioning year after year, and it’s a joy to watch him play every night.”
— Jeff Zillgitt
Golden State has been a road warrior in the postseason
Stephen Curry and the Warriors have no problem playing away from home.
The Warriors have won at least one road game in 26 consecutive playoff series.
“We always know how to find a way to win games no matter what style it is, high score, low score, defensive battle, shootout, whatever it is,” Golden State guard Stephen Curry said. “We found another level of courage and determination, just the ability to find a way to do it. Being in hostile environments, they test you, they push you. Our expertise shows up at the right time.”
— The Associated Press
Reference-www.usatoday.com