Golden State show their championship spirit in game two - Curry & Co. dominant over Celtics

Stephen Curry scored 29 points as the Golden State Warriors roared back into NBA Finals contention on Sunday with a series-levelling 107-88 game two victory over the Boston Celtics.

Curry spearheaded a deadly display of Golden State shooting in San Francisco while a superb Warriors defensive effort shut down Boston's key offensive weapons.

The Warriors, who squandered a 12-point fourth-quarter lead in game one, were in no mood to allow lightning to strike twice as they cut loose to build a double-digit advantage in the third quarter to tie the best-of-seven series at 1-1.

Curry led the scoring for Golden State, with Jordan Poole (17 points), Andrew Wiggins (11), Kevon Looney (12) and Klay Thompson (11) also making double figures.

Jayson Tatum topped the Boston scorers with 28 points, but crucially 21 of those came in a hard-fought first half.

Only two other Boston players - Jaylen Brown with 17 points and Derrick White with 12 - cracked double digits.

The Warriors defense, marshalled brilliantly by Draymond Green, suffocated Boston in the second half, with two high-scoring Celtics heroes from game one - Al Horford and Marcus Smart - held to just four points combined.

The series now moves to Boston with game three scheduled for Wednesday and game four on Friday.

"We said we needed to play with desperation and that's what we did," said Curry. "It's a good feeling to get back on track and now we've got to take it on the road.

"We got off to a better start defensively where we made an imprint on the game and they felt us more than they did in game one. Our third quarter was great and we got a bit more separation that made the fourth quarter easier tonight."

The Warriors put themselves in a winning position after outscoring Boston 35-14 in the third quarter to take an 87-64 lead into the fourth quarter.

Poole electrified San Francisco's packed Chase Center after launching a buzzer-beating three-pointer from near halfway at the end of the third to cap a devastating passage of play from the home team.

The Warriors kept up the pressure in the early part of the fourth quarter, extending their lead to 29 points as the Celtics scrambled to regroup before closing out a blowout win.

"I thought everybody was more engaged," Golden State coach Steve Kerr said. "It was pretty obvious, just our level of force and physicality was ramped up quite a bit, and it had to be.

"What Boston did in the fourth quarter the other night, we knew we had to come with a much better focus and sense of aggression, and I thought that started right from the beginning."

Celtics coach Ime Udoka was left ruing his team's failure to build on a bright start.

"The third quarter was disappointing but the first half was just as disappointing," Udoka said. "Had our opportunities. Came out, jumped out up nine early. Then turnovers started happening. Let them back in the game."

The 34-year-old two-time NBA MVP Curry was at his majestic best in a third quarter that effectively decided the game as the Warriors outscored Boston 35-14.

Curry contributed 14 points to that third-quarter onslaught, and was also a key contributor to a steely Warriors defensive display that shut down Boston's scoring.

"Steph was breathtaking in that quarter," Warriors coach Kerr said afterwards.

"Not just the shot-making but the defensive effort. He just doesn't get enough credit for his level of conditioning, physicality and defense.

"People go at him to try to wear him down because they know how important he is to us offensively."

Warriors get a taste of their own medicine - Celtics' fourth-quarter quickfire to steal game one

At 6ft 2in (1.88m) and weighing in at around 185 pounds (84kg), Curry has often faced criticism of being "too small" for the NBA despite establishing himself as one of the greatest players in history.

Kerr said Curry's physique had evolved since he arrived at Golden State.

"The difference in Steph's strength and physicality in his body now than from eight years ago when I first got here is pretty dramatic," Kerr said. "The guy's amazing. He just keeps working on his game, his strength, his conditioning year after year, and it's a pleasure to watch him play every night."

Curry says attitude has played as much a part in his success as his physical conditioning.

"It's been a physical development that's happened over time that obviously helps, a lot of work that's gone into that," Curry said.

"But at the end of the day, from my rookie year to now, it's always been about effort and just a care factor ... If you try hard, good things will happen. And you'll continue to get better. It's always been a point of emphasis. Just better at it now."

Golden State's defensive general Draymond Green said Curry doesn't get enough credit for his defensive prowess.

"I've been talking about it the last couple years how much he's improved on that side of the ball," Green said. "Teams used to try to call him into every action, and just try to pick on him.

"That doesn't work anymore. He sits down, he guards, and we all are there behind him if he does need help. But he hasn't been needing that often, and it's great.

"I've spoke about how much stronger he is. He's able to hold his ground, so you're not able to bump him off his spot, and that's been huge for us. I'm not shocked he's playing that type of defense. He's been doing that for the last couple years."

NBA FINALS

Golden State Warriors 107 - Boston Celtics 88

Series tied 1-1

Thursday

04:00: (1.65) Boston (13.0) Golden State (2.50)

***odds are subject to change

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