The Golden State Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics 104-94, inching closer to the championship after taking a 3-2 lead with Game 5 in the NBA Finals. Stephen Curry logged 16 points and 8 assists but went 0-for-9 from beyond the arc, while Jordan Poole contributed, and Andrew Wiggins stood out with 26 points and 13 rebounds, fueling a push that kept Boston in arrears. The Warriors anchored their win with a disciplined defensive effort and a relentless, late surge, even as Curry struggled from long range. The Celtics, led by a determined Tatum with 27 points and 10 rebounds, and strong performances from Smart and Brown on the boards, found themselves playing catch-up most of the night, unable to convert enough opportunities in the most crucial stretches.
The opening period did not favor the visitors from Massachusetts. Golden State stifled Boston’s ball movement with a smart defensive plan and moved the ball crisply on offense, avoiding forced shots and exploiting openings from the wings and opposite corners. The Warriors closed the first quarter with an eight-point advantage, leaving Boston to chase from the start. By halftime, San Francisco held a comfortable 52-39 lead, built on steady defense and efficient scoring that kept the Celtics from gaining traction early in the game.
Boston found a pulse in a rugged third quarter, a period some described as the “Proud Greens” showing grit and physicality. The offense finally found a rhythm that matched the intensity of the moment, scoring at a pace similar to the previous half and stitching together a 12-minute stretch that flipped the momentum. A 35-24 burst amplified the drama, bringing the Celtics within striking distance and giving the sellout crowd reason to believe. Poole’s unexpected late shot before the end of the period helped trim the deficit, leaving the score 76-74 as the final frame approached.
Approaching the fourth, the game intensified in a way only finals basketball can. Golden State regained its defensive tone quickly, denying Boston clean looks and forcing missed attempts as Boston’s rhythm faltered. Curry, who had endured a night of cooled shooting from distance, watched his teammates pick up the scoring load while the defense clamped down. Wiggins repeatedly attacked the rim, finishing through contact and providing a critical scoring punch that helped the Warriors pull away in the final minutes. The Celtics faced a series of tough misses, including nine straight failed attempts from the field at one point, as Golden State pressed its advantage and held firm under the pressure of a potential title clinch.
Draymond Green’s night included a stubborn accumulation of personal fouls, and he earned his sixth late in the game, triggering a dramatic moment as he argued a referee’s call. The situation prompted head coach Steve Kerr to defer to the officiating crew, a move that reflected the high-stakes nature of the moment. The decision did not alter the result in the end, but it added another layer to the game’s narrative in a tense fourth quarter. In the aftermath, Golden State found itself on the cusp of a championship, needing two more wins to seal the title and bring a banner to Chase Center. The Celtics left the floor with questions about consistency and execution in pivotal moments, aware that the road ahead would demand a flawless approach if they hoped to force a decisive seventh game in Boston or somewhere else on the road. The final score, 104-94, solidified a scenario where the Warriors would pursue the championship with renewed focus, while Boston confronted the reality that every possession would matter moving forward in the series. The night’s outcome underscored the importance of defense, timely scoring from multiple players, and the resilience that defines a champions’ chase, even as the season hung in the balance for both teams.