NBA Finals 2022: Game 1 Player Ratings for Warriors and Celtics
Game 1 of the NBA Finals is officially in the books.
Despite being the most comfortable team, the Warriors looked exhausted in the final quarter as the Celtics, who trailed 103-100 at one stage, finished the game with a 20-5 lead to stealing the homecourt's advantage with a 120-108 win.
Much has been made of Marcus Smart's fight against Steph Curry and if Jason Tatum can take his game to another level. But it was the "others" of the Celtics who stepped up significantly in the fourth quarter.
We break down key player ratings for you here and give each player an A rating out of 10 for their performance in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Player ratings
Steve Curry
If you tell people that Curry will set the NBA Finals record for three throws in a quarter with six in the first quarter, you will be forgiven for thinking that the Warriors would have blown their opponent.
This was not the case although Curry would go on to hit only one triple after his early offensive intervention.
He still finished 7 of 14 from distance and 12 of 25 overall with 34 points, five rebounds, and five assists. But Curry seemed to be forcing things a lot especially in the second half when he tried to regain the fire of the first quarter.
Curry's 21 points are the most points scored in the first quarter of any playoff game over the past 50 seasons.
Rating: 8
Al Horford
Horford, playing in the NBA Finals for the first time appeared and showed.
Big Al showed glimpses of taking over games during the postseason, and many wondered what kind of impact he would have in the NBA Finals.
Well, he completely balled in Game 1 and was a key part of the Celtics ' massive fourth quarter as they outscored the Warriors 40-16.
Horford was a perfect 4-of-4 in the fourth quarter and scored or assisted on 14 of Boston's last 17 points.
Horford finished the game with 26 points (9 of 12 throws), six rebounds, and three assists and was 6 of 8 from distance.
Rating: 10
Jaylen Brown
Horford and Derek White will get a lot of attention after the game, but it was Brown who dragged them back into the game just as things started to swing in the Warriors ' favor.
Brown had 24 points, seven rebounds, and five assists on a 10-of-23 shot from the field.
He was instrumental in helping C to open the fourth on a 7-0 run
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