Boston Celtics lament more third-quarter woes after blowout loss in Game 2

SAN FRANCISCO — The Boston Celtics used a remarkable comeback to overcome their typically disastrous third quarter in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

They had no such luck in Game 2.

The Golden State Warriors, powered by a 35-14 third-quarter advantage, blew out Boston Sunday night, winning 107-88 at Chase Center to even up this best-of-seven series at one game apiece. And the Warriors did so by exploiting what has, consistently, been Boston's Achilles' heel throughout these playoffs: poor starts to second halves.

«It's something we have to fix,» Celtics center Al Horford said.

In the three days between Games 1 and 2, Boston talked repeatedly about the need to avoid another ugly third quarter like the one it had to begin this series, as Golden State's 38-24 advantage in the third in Game 1 was erased only thanks to the Celtics turning around and having their own improbable fourth quarter.

There was no such comeback, however, in Game 2. Boston shot just 4-for-17 in the quarter and committed five turnovers that became 11 Warriors points. Golden State, meanwhile, went 7-for-12 from 3-point range, as Stephen Curry matched Boston's point total by himself.

By the time Jordan Poole buried two bombs from way behind the 3-point line inside the final 30 seconds of the quarter — first hitting a 29-footer before then burying one from nearly the half-court line as the buzzer sounded — the damage had already been done, leaving the formality of the final 12 minutes to be played for Golden State to tie this series up.

«I think tonight, turnovers, and I think sometimes letting our offense affect how we defend, kind of was a little stagnant in the third quarter,» said Jayson Tatum, who led Boston with 28 points but finished a minus-36 — the