Warriors vs. Celtics score, results: Boston steamrolls Golden State in fourth quarter of Game 1, takes early lead in NBA Finals

Jordan Greer

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Warriors vs. Celtics score, results: Boston steamrolls Golden State in fourth quarter of Game 1, takes early lead in NBA Finals image

The Warriors were in the driver's seat through three quarters. They entered the final frame of Thursday night's Game 1 with a double-digit lead over the Celtics, and they had been exceptional in fourth quarters throughout the NBA Playoffs.

Well, Boston threw all of those numbers right out of the window. The Celtics outscored the Warriors 40-16 in the fourth quarter on their way to a 120-108 victory. That point differential was the largest in a fourth quarter in NBA Finals history.

Jaylen Brown and Al Horford combined to score 21 of Boston's 40 points in the fourth, allowing the Celtics to take control late in the game despite Jayson Tatum's shooting struggles (12 points, 3-of-17 from the field).

"The group that started the fourth quarter, I think, did a great job setting the tone," Horford told ESPN's Lisa Salters. "Jaylen attacking, Rob [Williams III] got a lob dunk, and that just kind of got us going. From that point on, we felt like we were gonna stay solid, continue to fight, and that's what we did."

Golden State star Stephen Curry finished with a game-high 34 points in the loss. He exploded for 21 points in the first quarter, but Boston tightened up its defense over the final 36 minutes.

The Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights from Warriors vs. Celtics on Thursday. Check out the complete results from Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

MORE: Ranking top 15 players in 2022 NBA Finals

Warriors vs. Celtics score

Game 1 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Warriors 32 22 38 16 108
Celtics 28 28 24 40 120

Warriors vs. Celtics results, highlights from Game 1 of NBA Finals

(All times Eastern)

Final: Celtics 120, Warriors 108

11:25 p.m. — This Chase Center crowd is absolutely stunned. The Celtics have dominated the Warriors in this fourth quarter. They are going to take a 1-0 series lead.

11:15 p.m. — What a run by the Celtics. They have outscored the Warriors 26-11 through the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter. They are going crazy from 3-point range.

11:05 p.m. — The Celtics rattle off a 7-0 run and trim the deficit down to five. This Boston team just keeps hanging around.

End of third quarter: Warriors 92, Celtics 80

10:55 p.m. — Former NBA Finals MVP Andre Iguodala caps off a classic Warriors third quarter with a triple from the corner. Golden State will take a 12-point lead into the final frame.

10:40 p.m. — Stephen Curry... smooth.

10:30 p.m. — Did Marcus Smart watch some Harlem Globetrotters highlights before Game 1?

10:25 p.m. — Andrew Wiggins drains a 3-pointer and midrange jumper to kick off the third quarter. He has been terrific throughout the Warriors' NBA Playoff run.

Halftime: Celtics 56, Warriors 54

10:10 p.m. — After an explosive start from the Warriors, the Celtics bounced back and will enter the locker room with a two-point lead. Boston came out with much better defensive focus in the second quarter, preventing Stephen Curry from scoring a single point in the period.

9:55 p.m. — Jayson Tatum hasn't been able to find his shot just yet, but he is throwing some nice passes. The All-NBA First Team forward has seven assists and no turnovers.

9:45 p.m. — A nice start for Otto Porter Jr., who was upgraded from questionable to available on the injury report shortly before Game 1 tipped off. He drills his second 3-pointer of the contest.

End of first quarter: Warriors 32, Celtics 28

9:35 p.m. — What a quarter for Stephen Curry. He has 21 points, and he just set a new NBA Finals record.

9:30 p.m. — Jaylen Brown challenges Kevon Looney at the rim, then throws it down in transition.

9:20 p.m. — Oh boy. Chef Curry is cooking. The two-time NBA MVP already has 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field.

9:15 p.m. — Stephen Curry scores the first points of Game 1. The energy inside the Chase Center is electric.

9:10 p.m. — The Celtics win the opening tip. Game 1. The 2022 NBA Finals. Let's have some fun, folks.

8:55 p.m. — Here are your starting lineups for Game 1:

What channel is Warriors vs. Celtics on?

  • Date: Thursday, June 2
  • TV channel: ABC
  • Live streaming: Sling TV | Watch ESPN

Game 1 of the NBA Finals will air on ABC. Viewers can also stream Game 1 on Watch ESPN or Sling TV.

Viewers in the U.S. can stream every NBA Finals game live on SLING TV. With the SLING Orange Sports Extra package, get $10 off your first month now with access to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, TNT and NBATV. NBA Finals games on ABC are simulcast on ESPN3, which is included with SLING Orange, available for $35 per month including $25 the first month for new subscribers.

MORE: Watch the NBA Finals on Sling TV

Warriors vs. Celtics start time

  • Date: Thursday, June 2
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET | 6 p.m. PT

Game 1 of the NBA Finals will tip off around 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 2. The game will be played at the Chase Center in San Francisco.

Warriors vs. Celtics schedule, results

Date Game Time (ET) / Results TV channel
June 2 Game 1 Celtics 120, Warriors 108 ABC
June 5 Game 2 8 p.m. ABC
June 8 Game 3 9 p.m. ABC
June 10 Game 4 9 p.m. ABC
June 13 Game 5* 9 p.m. ABC
June 16 Game 6* 9 p.m. ABC
June 19 Game 7* 8 p.m. ABC

*If necessary

Jordan Greer

Jordan Greer Photo

Jordan Greer has been with The Sporting News since 2015. He previously worked for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He is a graduate of Westminster College and Syracuse University.