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Game 4s have been the home of iconic performances throughout NBA Finals history. Michael Jordan scored 55 points in the 1993 Finals against the Phoenix Suns when he dueled Charles Barkley, who had 32 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in the same game. In the 2019 Finals between the Warriors and Toronto Raptors, Kawhi Leonard had a 17-point third quarter en route to 36 points, 12 boards and 4 steals.
Timeliness is admittedly in his favor, but Stephen Curry’s 43-point, 10-rebound affair in Boston can probably be added to that list.
Friday night’s matchup was a crucial contest — especially for Golden State. Teams trailing 3-1 in the Finals have a series record of 1-35, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr shuffled the starting lineup by replacing Kevon Looney with Otto Porter Jr., but the change didn’t work to an immediate offensive boost as Golden State trailed 54-49 at halftime.
However, the tide turned in favor of the visiting team towards the end of the second half when Kerr made another adjustment to the line-up by sitting out Draymond Green for most of the closing stages of the game. 97 comeback win.
Here are some of the best sights and sounds from a memorable game 4.
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Clone Draymond?
Green struggled throughout the Finals and was on the bench for most of the fourth quarter. To put his weaknesses in perspective, he has more fouls (18) than points (17) in this series. His mother, Mary Babers-Green, overheard the gossip about her son’s game. She took to Twitter to issue a statement, even suggesting that a clone take Green’s place.
Chef curry cooked
It was Steph Curry’s Friday night show against the Celtics. He became the second oldest player to finish the Finals with 43 points and 10 rebounds (34 years and 88 days). According to ESPN Stats and Information, he follows LeBron James, who was 35 years and 284 days old when he reached the mark in the 2020 Finals. Curry is also the second player in Finals history to have 40 points along with seven 3-pointers in a game, along with Kyrie Irving, who did so in 2017. Stars like James and Joel Embiid took notice of Curry’s sensational performance.
One for the books
Amid an atypical string of Finals performances, Draymond Green added something to his playoff resume.
Festive meal
Boston’s TD Garden nailed the phrase “eat your greens” in a funny way with a championship chicken sandwich with a green Celtics bun.
celebrity sightings
Houston Rockets point guard John Wall was in the stands to watch the Celtics vs. Warriors matchup.
Jayson Tatum’s son, Deuce has become a star this postseason. He was a fixture on the sidelines watching his father play against the best in the NBA.
Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal sat courtside for Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
Aly Raisman, an Olympic gold medalist and native of Massachusetts, watched the Celtics take on the Warriors in the TD Garden.
Klay hugs the haters
The crowds at the TD Garden can be tough on opponents, but Klay Thompson didn’t let them get to him.
Quite the warm-up routine
Stephen Curry is known for his unique pregame buckets and he showed off his volleyball skills for his trick shot before Game 4.
Arrived in style
Celtics and Warriors players arrived at TD Garden for Game 4 in extraordinary outfits.
There’s no place like home
The Celtics presented a meal that embodied New England and even had the fisherman to match. Those in the media room enjoyed fresh lobster, stuffed clams and crab cakes.
playtime threads
For Friday’s matchup, the Warriors donned their Nike City Edition jerseys, which featured some of the team’s past and present logos.
Shirts are ready
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