BOSTON — After missing the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, the Warriors’ championship window appeared to be shutting.
But Stephen Curry and his teammates proved Thursday night they had no plans to let it close.
The Warriors further cemented the team’s dynasty and built upon Curry’s legacy as one of the NBA’s all-time greatest players as Golden State reclaimed its spot atop of the league, beating the Boston Celtics, 103-90, to win their fourth title in eight years.
The Warriors have struggled with close-out games this postseason.
Not in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
The regular cast showed up to impress at TD Garden as if no time had passed. Stephen Curry scored 34 points, Klay Thompson added 12 and Draymond Green (12 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists) played one of the best playoff games of his career as the Warriors cruised to a victory to notch the franchise’s fifth championship since moving to the Bay Area in 1962 and seventh overall.
After the Celtics jumped to an early 12-point lead, the Warriors sucked the life out of TD Garden, scoring 21 unanswered points — with five 3-pointers — to take a 37-22 lead with 10:13 left in the second quarter.
By the half, the Warriors were up by 54-39 and didn’t look back.
Curry drained a 3-pointer about midway through the third quarter and pointed at his ring finger, foreshadowing the latest piece of jewelry he’d be adding to his collection.
The Celtics, led by Jaylen Brown (34 points) and Al Horford (19 points, 14 rebounds), showed signs of life in the second half, cut the Warriors’ lead down to eight with under six minutes to play in the fourth quarter. But Golden State held on.
Much of the conversation entering the series was how the Warriors would be able to score against the league-best defense. But it was Golden State’s defense that shined, holding the Celtics to fewer than 100 points four times in the Finals.
With the dynastic core aging and a new young group emerging, the Warriors will do their best to maintain the dominance that has defined this team over the last eight years. But those conversations can wait until after a well-deserved celebration.
For now, the team — now winners of seven titles, surpassing the Bulls for the third most in the NBA — will savor this euphoric moment in which persistence and excellence led them back to the mountain top.
