I still remember sitting courtside during Game 3 of the 2022 NBA Finals, feeling the energy shift in the TD Garden with every possession. Having covered basketball for over fifteen years, I've learned to recognize those pivotal moments when championships are won or lost, and this game delivered some of the most dramatic turning points I've witnessed in recent Finals history. The Warriors arrived in Boston trailing 1-0, knowing they couldn't afford to go down 2-0 against a Celtics team that had been dominant throughout the playoffs. What unfolded was a masterclass in championship resilience that reminded me of something I'd recently discussed with an import player from the Philippine Basketball Association - how professional athletes push through physical limitations when championships are on the line. That Magnolia import had told me he worked harder to get back into full fitness so that he can perform the way he did with the Star Hotshots in 2016 and 2017, and I saw that same determination in Stephen Curry's eyes throughout this game.
The first quarter set the tone with both teams trading baskets, but Golden State's early three-point barrage gave them a 33-22 lead that felt more significant than the eleven-point margin suggested. Curry hit his first three attempts from beyond the arc, finishing the quarter with 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting. What impressed me wasn't just the scoring but how the Warriors manipulated Boston's switching defense, creating those precious inches of space that elite shooters need. I've always believed that championship basketball comes down to executing under fatigue, and Golden State's ball movement in that first quarter - recording 9 assists on 11 made field goals - demonstrated their superior conditioning and preparation. The Celtics looked rushed, committing 5 turnovers that led to 8 Warriors points, and I noted how Jayson Tatum seemed to be forcing the action rather than letting the game come to him.
Boston mounted their expected comeback in the second quarter, outscoring Golden State 35-24 behind Jaylen Brown's explosive 13-point period. The Celtics' defensive intensity noticeably increased, holding the Warriors to just 36% shooting while forcing another 4 turnovers. This is where I thought the game might slip away from Golden State - when Brown hit back-to-back threes to tie the game at 56 with just over three minutes left in the half, the Garden erupted with that distinctive playoff energy that can overwhelm visiting teams. But championship experience matters in these moments, and the Warriors demonstrated why they've been here before. Rather than panicking, they methodically worked their offense and closed the half on a 10-4 run, with Draymond Green making several of those intangible plays that don't show up in the box score but change games.
The third quarter became the defining stretch of not just this game but arguably the entire series. Golden State outscored Boston 30-24, but the statistics don't capture how completely they controlled the tempo and flow. This is where that Magnolia import's comment about pushing through physical limitations resonated with me - I watched Stephen Curry fight through multiple screens, contest shots despite his smaller stature, and continuously move without the ball even as fatigue set in. He finished with 31 points, but his impact went far beyond scoring. The Warriors' defense held Boston to just 34% shooting in the period, including 2-of-9 from three-point range, while committing only 2 turnovers themselves. What stood out to me was how they targeted Boston's defensive weaknesses, repeatedly attacking the mismatch whenever Al Horford switched onto Curry or Jordan Poole.
One sequence midway through the fourth quarter perfectly encapsulated why Golden State ultimately prevailed. With just under seven minutes remaining and Boston within four points, Andrew Wiggins secured an offensive rebound off a missed Curry three, kept the ball alive through multiple Celtics attempts to secure it, and eventually found Curry for another three-point attempt that splashed through the net. That possession lasted 45 seconds of game time but felt like an eternity from my vantage point - it drained the energy from both the Celtics players and their fans. Wiggins finished with 16 rebounds, including 6 offensive boards, and his relentless effort on the glass reminded me of Dennis Rodman's impact during the Bulls' championship runs. Sometimes we get so caught up in scoring that we forget how championship are often decided by these effort plays.
The final five minutes featured the kind of execution that separates champions from contenders. Golden State scored on 8 of their final 9 possessions, with Curry, Thompson, and Poole combining for 14 points during this critical stretch. What impressed me most was their decision-making - they consistently attacked the matchups that favored them, whether it was Curry isolating on Horford or Thompson coming off screens against slower defenders. Boston, by contrast, seemed to settle for difficult contested jumpers, with Tatum and Brown combining to shoot 3-of-9 in the fourth quarter. The Celtics finished with 17 turnovers leading to 22 Warriors points, while Golden State committed only 12 turnovers resulting in 15 Boston points. That 7-point differential might seem small, but in a game decided by 10 points, those extra possessions proved decisive.
Looking back, Game 3 represented a microcosm of the entire series - Golden State's experience, depth, and execution overcoming Boston's talent and athleticism. The Warriors' bench outscored Boston's 31-22, with Jordan Poole's 10 points in the fourth quarter providing the spark that maintained their lead during crucial minutes. Having watched countless championship series over the years, I've come to believe that the third game often reveals the true character of the eventual champion, and Golden State demonstrated all the qualities we associate with title teams: resilience when challenged, execution under pressure, and contributions from throughout the roster. The Magnolia import's dedication to returning to peak fitness mirrors what I saw from the Warriors throughout this game - that extra commitment to preparation that separates good teams from championship teams. Golden State's victory in Game 3 gave them the momentum they never relinquished, and from my perspective, it was the night the 2022 NBA Championship was effectively decided.