NBA Finals: Warriors Clamp Down In The Fourth to Move One Win From NBA Championship

Another rough fourth quarter for the Celtics helped the Golden State Warriors move just one win from their fourth NBA Championship in the last eight years and their seventh title overall. (Which, by the way, will move Golden State into sole possession of third on the all-time list ahead of the Chicago Bulls).

Warriors 104, Celtics 94

Series: GSW leads 3-2

The Celtics stumbled to the finish line last night in a crucial Game 5 in Golden State, scoring just 20 points on 26.7 percent shooting in the fourth quarter as the Warriors won their second straight game to take a 3-2 lead over Boston in the NBA Finals. Less than a week ago, this series seemed to be heading toward the Celtics winning their 18th ring, but the script has been flipped, and Boston is now on the brink of losing this series.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were held to five points apiece in the fourth. Tatum shot 1-of-5 from the floor and Brown shot 1-of-4. As a unit, the Celtics shot 25 percent from deep in the fourth quarter while the Warriors shot 50 percent as a team in the final frame en route to the win.

Troublesome fourth quarters have been a troubling trend for the Celtics in this series. In Boston’s Games 1 and 3 victories, the Celtics outscored the Warriors a combined 63-27 in those two fourth quarters. In Games 2, 4, and 5, the Dubs have outscored the Warriors by 85-58 in those three fourth quarters.

Stephen Curry was the story in the Warriors’ Game 4 victory on Friday night, but tonight it was Andrew Wiggins who stole the show. Wiggins finished with 26 points on 12-of-23 shooting to go with 13 rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 43 minutes.

More importantly, Wiggins did the bulk of his scoring when it mattered most last night. Wiggins scored a team-high 10 points in the fourth quarter on 5-of-6 shooting while grabbing five boards and logging five assists in closeout time for Golden State. Wiggins also paced the Warriors with 16 first-half points when guys like Curry, Klay, and Jordan Poole were still getting going.

Gary Payton II called the performances of guys like Andrew Wiggins the kind of strength in numbers that makes the Warriors the championship-caliber team they are right now.

“Just the strength in numbers,” Payton said. “We have a bunch of guys that are ready at all times. And you know when their number is called, they come in and give us a good push, good energy, good vibe on the court. Could be for 30 seconds, two minutes. You know, whoever comes in, steps up. They come in and do their job and keep the same focus that we had.”

Curry struggled for much of the night shooting just 31.8 percent from the floor and a dismal 0-for-9 from three-point land and finished the game with 16 points, something that Klay Thompson thinks will play into the Warriors’ favor when they attempt to close this series out in Game 6 on Thursday night.

“I just know he’ll respond,” Thompson said of Curry. “He’s one of the greatest competitors I’ve ever been around. And he’s a perfectionist, like myself. I know he’ll be thinking about the shots he missed. And that’s a good thing, because Thursday, hopefully, most of the time, he regresses to the mean. And it’s scary when he does.”

As far as Curry is concerned, he’s just happy that the Warriors are just one win away from finishing the ultimate job.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been happier after a 0-for-whatever type of night, just knowing the context of the game, the other ways you tried to impact the game, and the fact that you know, you had four guys step up in meaningful ways to help us win offensively,” Curry said. “So all that stuff matters. Yeah, there’s a fire burning, and I want to make shots, but the rest of it is about how we win the game, and we did that.”

The Celtics have to win out if they want to win this series; the Warriors have two shots at notching that fourth and decisive victory in the series, with their first coming on Thursday night in Boston.

Here are the highlights from last night’s game courtesy of NBA.com’s YouTube channel:

written by

Patrick grew up in Chicago's Bridgeport and Garfield Ridge neighborhoods before moving to the Western Suburbs of Chicago before eventually relocating to the Las Vegas area with his family in 2023. He started with Bleacher Nation in 2021 and has spent time as a Staff Writer and on the Chicago Blackhawks beat. He is currently a writer and editor at Bleacher Nation covering the Chicago Bears and the NFL at large and the author of the Bleacher Nation Newsletter. Patrick is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA).

more bulls news

The Chicago Bulls’ Veterans May Not be the Only Players on the Trade Block

Everything has to be on the table for organizations like the Chicago Bulls. The franchise has faced back-to-back Play-In Tournament losses, and those came after an uneventful trip to the playoffs that ended in a swift five games. The last...

Anthony Edwards Detonates, A Good Loss? Matas Buzelis’ Defense, and Other Bulls Bullets

As the Minnesota Timberwolves throttled the Chicago Bulls in the fourth quarter, I got off the couch, walked to my hat rack, put one on, and tipped it. Sometimes, you just get beat by a better team. While I know...

Box Score and Player Grades: Timberwolves 135, Bulls 119 – November 7, 2024

If the Chicago Bulls had tired legs after last night's loss to the Dallas Mavericks, they didn't show it. The team's new identity was on full display to start this one. Threes were flying through the air, the ball was...

Bulls Injury Report: Zach LaVine OUT Again, Lonzo Ball Update

The Chicago Bulls will be without Zach LaVine again on Thursday night. Following his strong start to the season, LaVine suffered an adductor strain during the team's victory over the Orlando Magic on Oct. 30. While he played through the...

Pre-Gamin’: Minnesota Timberwolves at Chicago Bulls (7:00 CT), Projected Lineups, How to Watch, More

Things are starting to spiral a bit for the Bulls. Can they get back on the track tonight against a very good Timberwolves team? https://twitter.com/chicagobulls/status/1854510047587377419 Game Info Minnesota Timberwolves (4-3) at Chicago Bulls (3-5) – 7:30 p.m. CT on Chicago...

Old Friend DeMar DeRozan is Already Breaking Records for the Kings

DeMar DeRozan is doing what he does best in Sacramento. The former Chicago Bulls All-Star and mid-range maestro is already draining critical buckets for the Kings. He helped the team finish off the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night with 11...

Yes, the Bulls Are Still Ready to Trade Zach LaVine & Nikola Vucevic (REPORT)

After back-to-back seasons that featured Play-In Tournament losses, the Chicago Bulls finally swallowed their pride. The front office jump-started a roster overhaul in the offseason. They moved on from veteran DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso in exchange for developmental pieces...

The Philadelphia 76ers Just Got More Bad News

Things keep getting worse for the Philadelphia 76ers. The organization is off to a 1-6 start to begin the season. Joel Embiid surprisingly started the season on the injury report and has yet to see the court. To add insult...

Matas Buzelis Did Stuff, Ayo Dosunmu’s Ice-Cold Shooting, Josh Giddey’s Contract, and Other Bulls Bullets

Less than 24 hours after Luka Doncic throttled the Chicago Bulls, the team will welcome Anthony Edwards into the United Center. Why, cruel world!? WHY!? https://twitter.com/chicagobulls/status/1854510047587377419 Hey, at least one thing went right for the Bulls during the – unfortunately...

Player Grades & Box Score: Mavericks 119, Bulls 99 – November 6, 2024

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving probably read the scouting report like a menu. The two players had to be salivating at the idea of going up against a Chicago Bulls defense that has allowed the single-most points in the paint...

Latest News

Oregon vs. Wisconsin Football Game Tickets, Venue, Start Time – Nov. 16

The No. 1 Oregon Ducks square off against a fellow Big Ten foe when they visit the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, November 16, 2024.Looking to attend this game live? College football tickets are available on Vivid...

Cubs Roster Move: Herget Claimed By Rockies

Talk about a Friday afternoon news dump! OK, actually, this is not a particularly significant piece of news, as the waiver of reliever Jimmy Herget (a guy who didn't actually pitch in the big leagues for the Cubs, and who...

Bears Bits: Empty Investments, Deep Ball Accuracy, More

The Chicago Bears will host the New England Patriots at Soldier Field on Sunday, and they'll again be searching for success on the offensive side of the ball. That starts with their rookie quarterback and his receivers, a group that...

New England Patriots Injury Report: Mayo Rules Out Two Key Defenders for Sunday

The Patriots are set for a clash against the Bears at Soldier Field this Sunday, and they’ll be navigating several challenges on both sides of the ball. New England’s defense will be without safety Kyle Dugger and linebacker Christian Elliss,...

WELP: The Bears Will Be Without *BOTH* Starting Tackles in Week 10

Yuck! The Friday Chicago Bears injury report is out and the news isn't good for the offensive line. The Bears will be down both starting offensive tackles after declaring left tackle Braxton Jones and right tackle Darnell Wright for Sunday's...

The Chicago Bulls’ Veterans May Not be the Only Players on the Trade Block

Everything has to be on the table for organizations like the Chicago Bulls. The franchise has faced back-to-back Play-In Tournament losses, and those came after an uneventful trip to the playoffs that ended in a swift five games. The last...

Who was the Last Running Back to Win the Heisman Trophy?

We are heading for the stretch run of this college football season and top players like Ashton Jeanty are looking to solidify their spot as a Heisman finalist. We have seen tons of quarterbacks in recent years so we wonder...

Bears vs. Patriots Preview: One More Before the NFC North Gauntlet

Two weeks after Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears lost to Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders, they're still searching for some semblance of their pre-bye week success on offense. Chicago's offense has been as disjointed as it's been all...

Chicago Bears Keys to Victory Against the New England Patriots

The Chicago Bears return to Soldier Field for a much-needed home game against the New England Patriots this week. Chicago has been a drastically different team at home this season, winning all three contests at Soldier Field. Chicago Bears Keys...

Bears Offense vs Patriots Defense: How Do They Stack Up?

The Chicago Bears are home this weekend, taking on the New England Patriots at Soldier Field in Week 10. How does their offense stack up against the Patriots' defense? Let's discuss. Chicago Bears Offense QB: Caleb Williams RB: D'Andre Swift...

The Bears Defense is Rallying Around Zacch Pickens

While it seems like the Chicago Bears locker room is teetering and on the verge of disaster, this clip from @PatTheDesigner featuring players surrounding Zacch Pickens provides hope that the guys in the locker room can bring the team together...

more bulls news