After Game 4 at the TD Garden, the 2022 NBA Finals series between the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors is tied, 2-2.
Game 4s have been home to legendary performances throughout the history of the NBA Finals. Michael Jordan scored 55 points in the 1993 Finals against the Phoenix Suns while dueling against Charles Barkley who had 32 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in the same game. In the 2019 Finals between the Warriors and Toronto Raptors, Kawhi Leonard had a 17-point third quarter on the way to 36 points, 12 boards and 4 steals.
Recency bias is admittedly in his favor, but Stephen Curry's 43-point, 10-rebound affair in Boston can probably be added to that list.
Friday night's matchup was a pivotal contest -- particularly for Golden State. Teams that trail 3-1 in the Finals have an all-time series record of 1-35, per ESPN Stats & Information. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr shook up the starting lineup by replacing Kevon Looney with Otto Porter Jr, but the change did not translate into an immediate offensive boost as Golden State trailed, 54-49, at halftime.
However, the tide turned in favor of the visiting team late in the second half as Kerr made another lineup adjustment by sitting Draymond Green for most of the game's final period. The Warriors outscored the Celtics 15-0 in clutch time, en route to a 107-97 comeback victory.
Here are some of the best sights and sounds from a memorable Game 4.
Clone Draymond?
Green has struggled during the Finals, and he rode the bench for the majority of the fourth quarter. To put his shortcomings in perspective, he has more fouls (18) than points (17) this series. His mother, Mary Babers-Green, has heard the chatter around her son's play. She took to Twitter to offer an explanation, even suggesting a clone took Green's place.
Please ppl stop asking me what's wrong with Dray... I DONT KNOW! Maybe this is a CLONE! Lmbo WHERE IS THE Draymond that helped get us here!! Hmmmm I have never seen this either!
β Mary B (@BabersGreen) June 11, 2022
Chef Curry cooked
It was the Steph Curry show Friday night against the Celtics. He became the second-oldest player to finish with a 43-point, 10-rebound stat line in the Finals (34 years and 88 days). He trails LeBron James, who was 35 years and 284 days old when he accomplished the mark in the 2020 Finals, according to ESPN Stats and Information. Curry is also the second player in Finals history to score 40 points along with seven 3-pointers in a game, joining Kyrie Irving who did it in 2017. Stars like James and Joel Embiid took notice of Curry's sensational outing.
Chef is INSANE!!! πππππ
β LeBron James (@KingJames) June 11, 2022
AMAZING
β Joel "Troel" Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) June 11, 2022
That was fun basketball. Thanks @warriors Steph crazy
β George Kittle (@gkittle46) June 11, 2022
30 is a bad boy.
β CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) June 11, 2022
Hoop like steph
β Evan Turner (@thekidet) June 11, 2022
Steph different lol
β Eric Paschall (@epaschall) June 11, 2022
LFG!!! WARDELL CURRY!!!! @StephenCurry30
β β‘οΈPrimetime!!!β‘οΈ (@Joe_MainMixon) June 11, 2022
WARDELL!!!!
β Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 11, 2022
Special performance by 30 sheesh
β Tyrese Haliburton (@TyHaliburton22) June 11, 2022
30 is different.
β Seth Curry (@sdotcurry) June 11, 2022
One for the books
Amid an uncharacteristic stretch of Finals performances, Draymond Green still added to his playoff resume.
Draymond Green is now the 9th player in NBA History to eclipse 200 assists in the #NBAFinals! #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/4KMbDgKLfR
β NBA History (@NBAHistory) June 11, 2022
Congrats to @Money23Green of the @warriors for moving up to 8th on the All-Time #NBAFinals Steals list! #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/6JbQcjSiYn
β NBA (@NBA) June 11, 2022
Festive food
Boston's TD Garden put a fun spin on the phrase "eat your greens" with a championship chicken sandwich that featured a Celtics green bun.
This counts as eating your greens, right? π
β TD Garden (@tdgarden) June 11, 2022
Stop by Garden Grill (Loge 8/9) during tonight's #Celtics game to give The 'Ship Chicken Sammy a try! Your taste buds will thank you. #TDGEats | #DelawareNorth pic.twitter.com/DaK0c4DKbE
Celebrity sightings
Houston Rockets point guard John Wall was in the stands to watch the Celtics-Warriors matchup.
John Wall is at the TD Garden for Game 4 π pic.twitter.com/DjxKFR8hRi
β NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 11, 2022
Deuce, the son of Jayson Tatum, has become a star this postseason. He's been a fixture on the sidelines watching his dad play against the NBA's best.
DEUCE! #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/IsUeLMFum3
β NBA (@NBA) June 11, 2022
Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal sat courtside to take in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
Bradley Beal in the house for Game 4!#NBAFinals x #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/DDdLeN8YKz
β NBA (@NBA) June 11, 2022
Olympic gold medalist and Massachusetts native Aly Raisman watched the Celtics take on the Warriors at the TD Garden.
π₯ @Aly_Raisman in the building for Finals action!#NBAFinals #NBACelebRow #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/jSgF0vFPbG
β NBA (@NBA) June 11, 2022
Klay's embracing the haters
The crowd at the TD Garden can be hard on opponents, but Klay Thompson didn't let them get to him.
Klay embracing the boos from the Boston crowd π£οΈ pic.twitter.com/yhg8ilzJHG
β SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 11, 2022
Quite the warm-up routine
Stephen Curry is known for his unique pregame buckets, and he showed off his volleyball skills for his trick shot ahead of Game 4.
that's a new one @StephenCurry30 pic.twitter.com/cCW7BZ4apK
β Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 11, 2022
Arrived in style
Players from the Celtics and Warriors arrived at TD Garden for Game 4 wearing exceptional outfits.
Tatum in the building for Game 4 π pic.twitter.com/8Gv1vtV5q3
β NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 10, 2022
Let's rock. pic.twitter.com/a1Nu0arJoB
β Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 10, 2022
2οΈβ£3οΈβ£ pic.twitter.com/7stBN0vJ3D
β Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 10, 2022
π£ DUBS ARE HERE pic.twitter.com/ptfnBo9DC5
β Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 10, 2022
There's no place like home
The Celtics presented a meal that embodied New England, and even had the fisherman to match. Those in the media room enjoyed fresh lobster, stuffed clams and crab cakes.
A true New England dinner tonight in the media dining room βοΈπ¦
β Boston Celtics (@celtics) June 10, 2022
Thanks @tdgarden! pic.twitter.com/dnTZecFIYV
Game-time threads
For Friday's matchup, the Warriors donned their Nike City Edition uniforms that featured some of the team logos from past and present.
tonight's threads pic.twitter.com/YUtOUa7Cpl
β Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 10, 2022
Gold threads#GoldBlooded pic.twitter.com/uV1vaXiv51
β Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 10, 2022
Shirts are ready
Game 4 tonight pic.twitter.com/xBchUL5IMS
β Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) June 10, 2022