Warriors set NBA Finals record in Game 6 vs. Celtics with scoring run

Ananth Pandian

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Warriors set NBA Finals record in Game 6 vs. Celtics with scoring run image

With a championship on the line, the Golden State Warriors are absolutely locked in for Game 6 of the NBA Finals.

The Warriors set a new NBA Finals record in the first half of Game 6 by going on a 21-0 run that started in the first quarter and ended in the second.

Amazingly, the Warriors started the game slowly, missing shots and allowing the Celtics to build an early lead. But after Jayson Tatum nailed a jumper with 2:53 left in the first quarter, the Warriors started playing like the Warriors we've grown accustomed to seeing.

Golden State picked up the intensity on defense and got in a rhythm on offense as the game quickly turned in their favor. Everything was going Golden State's way, including a banked-in 3-pointer from Jordan Poole.

At the start of Golden State's run, the Celtics were leading 22-16.

At the end of Golden State's run, the Warriors were winning 37-22.

And at the end of the second quarter, the Warriors were up 54-29 as they went on a 52-25 run to close out the first half.

At halftime, the Warriors had four players in double digits (Andrew Wiggins, Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry and Jordan Poole), shooting 42.0 percent from the field and 43.5 percent from three, outrebounded the Celtics (30 to 21) and forced Boston into 12 turnovers. 

Sheesh.

Golden State's impressive and historic run was a result of their ultra-focused approach to Game 6. The Warriors know that a win would give them a championship and that goal likely influenced their first half 21-0 run.

"The guys all know what's at stake, and it's a great opportunity," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said before Game 6. "As a coach, you try to help prepare the guys mentally for what's coming.

"You have to go out and play with the desperation that got you this far but without the anxiety that can come with thinking about clinching. You can't think about any of that. You've got to just think about executing one minute at a time, one play at a time, and that's the focus tonight."

Ananth Pandian

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Ananth Pandian is a seasoned marketer and copywriter with over a decade of experience working for premium brands and publishers like Nike, SLAM, and CBS Sports. Prior to plying his trade as a wordsmith, he grew up in a farmhouse, surrounded by the woods, fields, and a creek. Ananth has spent much of his life outdoors, and is excited to guide you through his never-ending list of the best products to keep you from falling to the perils of nature. Nowadays, there is rarely a weekend that goes by where Ananth isn't out camping, hiking, or just back on his parents' farm.