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Jordan Poole of the Golden State Warriors drives past Jayson Tatum during the fourth quarter in Game Five of the 2022 NBA Finals. Photo: AFP
SportBasketball

NBA Finals: Golden State Warriors on brink of seventh championship crown as Wiggins inspires Celtics defeat

  • Wiggins delivered a huge performance at both ends of the Warriors’ Chase Center court, shooting 12-of-23 while hauling in 13 rebounds with two steals and a block
  • Warriors are now up 3-2 in the NBA Finals and can clinch the championship when the series heads back to Boston for game six on Thursday
NBA Play-offs
Agence France-Presse
Agence France-Presse
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Andrew Wiggins scored 26 points as the Golden State Warriors battled past the Boston Celtics 104-94 to move within one win of a seventh NBA championship crown.

With Stephen Curry having a rare off-night after his 43-point game four heroics, Wiggins seized control to lead a balanced Golden State offensive effort which leaves the Warriors 3-2 up in the best-of-seven series.

Wiggins delivered a huge performance at both ends of the Warriors’ Chase Center court, shooting 12-of-23 while hauling in 13 rebounds with two steals and a block.

Andrew Wiggins of the Golden State Warriors dunks the ball during the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics in Game Five of the 2022 NBA Finals. Photo: AFP

The best-of-seven series resumes in Boston on Thursday night and if the Celtics can win at home they will return to the Bay Area for a winner-take-all Game 7 on Sunday.

All five games so far have been decided by 10 or more points.

Marcus Smart was whistled for a technical foul then an offensive foul in a one-second span early in the fourth. He overcame a slow start to score 20 points, while Jayson Tatum had 27 points and 10 rebounds.

Jordan Poole knocked down a 33-foot 3 from the left wing to beat the third-quarter buzzer as the Warriors took a 75-74 lead into the final 12 minutes after the Celtics roared back in the third.

The Celtics found their own third-quarter magic that has long defined Golden State’s success in the second half. Boston trailed 51-39 at the break before charging back with 35-point outburst in the third.

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