Celtics and Warriors Set for Potentially Epic Finals Clash
The Boston Celtics take on the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on Thursday night in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
The Celtics (0-0) come into this Finals clash brimming with confidence after having successfully traversed the gauntlet of the Nets, Bucks and Heat in the Eastern Conference. Boston is fresh off a seven-game series against Miami that saw Ime Udoka's club notch three road wins, leaving them battle-tested for the ultra-tough environment of Chase Center, where Golden State remains undefeated this postseason. The Celtics have gotten three valuable days off following their Game 7 win Sunday night, giving some of their key walking wounded some much-needed rest.
The Celtics will list Marcus Smart (ankle) and Robert Williams (knee) as questionable for Thursday's game.
The Warriors (0-0) took care of their conference-finals opponent, the Mavericks, in much more efficient fashion, dispatching Luka Donic and company in five games. That also gives them three extra full days of rest on the Celtics, which could loom particularly large in this series opener. Against Dallas, Stephen Curry get plenty of help from fellow first-unit members Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and Kevon Looney, as well as key second-unit member Jordan Poole. This could also be instrumental to Golden State's success in their quest for the Larry O'Brien Trophy, as Curry had trouble with efficiency against Boston, which is capable of excellent perimeter defense, during the regular season.
The Warriors will list Gary Payton (elbow) and Andre Iguodala (neck) as questionable for Thursday's game.
Thursday's game marks the third meeting between the teams since the start of the regular season. Each team has won one game.
The Celtics (0-0) come into this Finals clash brimming with confidence after having successfully traversed the gauntlet of the Nets, Bucks and Heat in the Eastern Conference. Boston is fresh off a seven-game series against Miami that saw Ime Udoka's club notch three road wins, leaving them battle-tested for the ultra-tough environment of Chase Center, where Golden State remains undefeated this postseason. The Celtics have gotten three valuable days off following their Game 7 win Sunday night, giving some of their key walking wounded some much-needed rest.
The Celtics will list Marcus Smart (ankle) and Robert Williams (knee) as questionable for Thursday's game.
The Warriors (0-0) took care of their conference-finals opponent, the Mavericks, in much more efficient fashion, dispatching Luka Donic and company in five games. That also gives them three extra full days of rest on the Celtics, which could loom particularly large in this series opener. Against Dallas, Stephen Curry get plenty of help from fellow first-unit members Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and Kevon Looney, as well as key second-unit member Jordan Poole. This could also be instrumental to Golden State's success in their quest for the Larry O'Brien Trophy, as Curry had trouble with efficiency against Boston, which is capable of excellent perimeter defense, during the regular season.
The Warriors will list Gary Payton (elbow) and Andre Iguodala (neck) as questionable for Thursday's game.
Thursday's game marks the third meeting between the teams since the start of the regular season. Each team has won one game.