The 2022 NBA Finals are here!
The NBA’s 75th Anniversary season features a comeback game with the Boston Celtics taking on the Golden State Warriors. The two teams were frequent playoff rivals in the 1950s and 1960s before the Warriors moved to California and met in the 1964 NBA Finals.
The Warriors, led by Western Conference Finals MVP Stephen Curry, are in the Finals for the sixth time in eight years, looking to win their fourth title since 2015. The Celtics and Western Conference Finals MVP Eastern Conference Jayson Tatum are making their first Finals appearance since 2010, when they lost to Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games. Boston hasn’t won the title since 2008, and no one on the Celtics’ roster has ever played in a Finals game.
This will be the third Finals series in which one team had at least 100 games of Finals experience on their roster while the other had zero. The previous two cases involved the Chicago Bulls: they had the experience advantage over the Utah Jazz in 1997, while they were the inexperienced team against the Los Angeles Lakers in 1991.
Here’s all the info you need for the 2022 Finals, including news, results, highlights, stats and game-by-game analysis.
MORE: First Round | Second round | Conference Finals
NBA FINALS
ODDS: Golden State -150 (Caesars Sportsbook)
Game 1: Celtics 120, Warriors 108
Game 2: Warriors 107, Celtics 88
Game 3: Celtics 116, Warriors 100
Game 4: Warriors 107, Celtics 97
Game 5: Monday at Golden State, 9 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 6: Thursday in Boston, 9 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 7: June 19 at Golden State, 8 p.m. ET (ABC)*
*If necessary
0:38
Steph rummages in his bag, puts moves on Time Lord before emptying the float
Game 4: Warriors 107, Celtics 97
Leaders
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Points: Stephen Curry, Warriors – 43 points
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Rebounds: Andrew Wiggins, Warriors – 16 rebounds
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Assists: Draymond Green, Warriors – 8 assists
Game Box Score 4 | Match 4 Highlights
tweet of the night
Everyone talks about what Steph is not. Let’s talk about what it is. A BAD MFer!
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) June 11, 2022
Stephen Curry puts Golden State on the back for even the series
An epic performance from the two-time MVP returns the series to San Francisco itself at 2-2, writes Kevin Arnovitz.
Game 3: Celtics 116, Warriors 100
Leaders
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Points: Stephen Curry, Warriors – 31 points
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Rebounds: Robert Williams III, Celtics — 10 rebounds
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Assists: Jayson Tatum, Celtics – 9 assists
Game Box Score 3 | Match 3 Highlights
tweet of the night
Can’t believe GSW pulled the starters here down 14 with 2 minutes left.
It’s just a 2 possession game.
— Haralabos Voulgaris (@haralabob) June 9, 2022
Boston bully ball beats Golden State small ball
Boosted by the home crowd, Boston came out strong and asserted their will on the inside en route to a Game 3 win, writes Kevin Arnovitz.
Game 2: Warriors 107, Celtics 88
Leaders
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Points: Stephen Curry, Warriors – 29 points
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Rebounds: Al Horford, Celtics – 8 rebounds
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Assists: Draymond Green, Warriors – 7 assists
Game Box Score 2 | Match 2 Highlights
tweet of the night
Steph looks at this JP streak like a proud big brother lol.
— 🏁 Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) June 6, 2022
Draymond Green roars and sets the tone for Golden State Warriors Game 2 win
Green promised everything would be different after Boston’s Game 1 win as the annoying forward showed up wherever he was needed to even the series, writes Tim Keown.
Warriors use patented second-half blitz to tie playoffs with Celtics
After blowing a 15-point lead — and a stellar 34-point performance from Curry — the Warriors refused to repeat the mistakes they made in Game 1 in a blowout Game 2 win, writes Kevin Arnovitz .
Game 1: Celtics 120, Warriors 108
Leaders
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Points: Stephen Curry, Warriors – 34 points
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Rebounds: Draymond Green, Warriors – 11 rebounds
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Assists: Jayson Tatum, Celtics – 13 assists
Game Box Score 1 | Match 1 Highlights
tweet of the night
High level of basketball displayed gentlemen
—Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) June 3, 2022
The bold changes that led to a Celtics victory in Game 1
Brad Stevens has excelled in his new role as team chairman, allowing Ime Udoka to unlock the potential of young Celtics, writes Brian Windhorst.
The Celtics took a page from the Warriors playbook to win Game 1
Down 12 points after another strong third quarter for the Warriors, the Celtics’ historic shot fueled an unprecedented fourth-quarter comeback to steal Game 1, writes Kevin Arnovitz.
HOW THEY ARRIVED
Golden State Warriors
Regular season: 53-29, third in the Western Conference
First round: Def. Denver Nuggets 4-1
Second round: Def. Memphis Grizzlies 4-2
Conference Finals: Def. Dallas Mavericks 4-1
Boston Celtics
Regular season: 51-31, second in the Eastern Conference
First round: Def. Brooklyn Nets 4-0
Second round: Def. Milwaukee Bucks 4-3
Conference Finals: Def. Miami Heat 4-3
Jayson Tatum is naturally gifted and obsessively works his game, but what sets him apart is the self-confidence built in large part by a woman who gave up her own dreams so Tatum could live hers. Whole story
Zach Lowe reveals the tension-filled behind-the-scenes negotiations of one of the most impactful trades in team history – and how it could raise uncomfortable questions for the franchise in the future. Whole story
The NBA’s iconic championship trophy has a new look for 2022, and ESPN got a behind-the-scenes look at how it came about. Whole story
The Warriors are back, battling for their fourth title in eight years. The Celtics worked that way for half a decade, designed in many ways with Golden State in mind. Zach Lowe breaks down every move and counter move that could decide the final. Whole story
Kevin Pelton’s All-NBA Finals Teams
Which players have established themselves as the biggest stars on the brightest stage? Kevin Pelton looks back on 75 years of NBA history and picks his team for the Finals for every game.
Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3
Golden State turned the loss of Kevin Durant into pieces that would revive a fallen contender, writes Ramona Shelburne. Whole story
The 2022 NBA Finals features two elite duos taking on two of the league’s best defenses. Kirk Goldsberry breaks down the chess match that could decide the NBA Finals. Whole story
Jayson Tatum? Clay Thompson? Al Horford? Stephen Curry? Which stars will decide the final? Kevin Pelton delivers his top 10. Whole story
The NBA Finals continues on ABC. What are the most important first keys of Warriors-Celtics? Whole story
Historic NBA Finals coverage
2021: Giannis and the Bucks conquer the Suns
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s epic performance in Game 6 ended the Milwaukee Bucks’ 50-year title drought, giving them their second NBA championship with a victory over the Phoenix Suns.
Full coverage of the 2021 NBA Finals
2020: LeBron and the Lakers back on top
The Los Angeles Lakers conquered the Orlando bubble of the NBA, defeating the Miami Heat in six games for the 17th championship in franchise history.
Full coverage of the 2020 NBA Finals
2019: Kawhi becomes King of the North
For the first time in NBA history, a team outside the United States won the championship, as the Toronto Raptors eliminated the Golden State Warriors in six games.
Full coverage of the 2019 NBA Finals
2018: How swept are the Warriors?
The Golden State Warriors capped a second straight title run by defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in four games.
Full coverage of the 2018 NBA Finals
2017: Durant puts the Warriors back on top
The Golden State Warriors were nearly perfect in 2017, going 16-1 in the playoffs to win the NBA championship.
Full coverage of the 2017 NBA Finals
2016: ‘Cleveland is for you!’
LeBron James and the Cavaliers ended Cleveland’s 52-year title drought by becoming the first team to overcome a 3-1 Finals deficit.
Full coverage of the 2016 NBA Finals