I still get chills thinking about that Game 3 of the 2022 NBA Finals. What an absolute masterpiece of basketball - the kind of game that reminds you why we fell in love with this sport in the first place. The Warriors were down 2-0 coming into that crucial matchup, and honestly, most analysts had written them off. I remember sitting in my living room with that nervous energy, knowing this could either be the beginning of an incredible comeback or the start of a sweep.
The first quarter felt like a continuation of the Celtics' dominance from the previous games. Boston came out swinging, building what felt like a comfortable lead. But then something shifted - that Warriors championship DNA kicked in. Stephen Curry, who finished with 31 points, started hitting those impossible shots that make you question physics. What really stood out to me was how the Warriors' role players stepped up. Andrew Wiggins had what I consider his career-defining game, putting up 26 points and 13 rebounds while playing phenomenal defense against Jayson Tatum.
There was this moment in the third quarter that changed everything. The Celtics were up by 12 points, and the TD Garden was absolutely rocking. Then Draymond Green - who'd been struggling throughout the playoffs - made three consecutive defensive stops that completely shifted the momentum. I've been covering basketball for fifteen years, and I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen a single player will their team back into a game like that. The Warriors went on a 19-4 run, and you could see the confidence draining from the Celtics' faces. It was one of those turning points that you recognize immediately, where the entire complexion of the series changes before your eyes.
What fascinates me about championship teams is how they find contributions from unexpected places. Gary Payton II, who wasn't even in the rotation earlier in the season, provided 10 crucial points off the bench along with his trademark defensive intensity. That's the thing about great teams - someone always steps up when you need them most. It reminds me of what we've seen with players like the Magnolia import who worked tirelessly to regain his 2016-2017 form. That dedication to returning to peak performance, that willingness to put in the extra work - it's what separates good players from champions.
The fourth quarter was an absolute nail-biter, with both teams trading baskets. Every possession felt like it carried the weight of the entire series. When Curry hit that step-back three over Al Horford with about three minutes left, I actually jumped off my couch. The Warriors outscored the Celtics 33-25 in that final period, shooting an incredible 58% from the field. The final score of 116-100 doesn't really capture how close this game was for long stretches. Boston had their chances, but they committed 18 turnovers that led to 28 Warriors points - you simply can't do that against a team of Golden State's caliber and expect to win.
Looking back, this game proved to be the turning point of the entire series. The Warriors gained the confidence they needed, while the Celtics never quite recovered from that third-quarter collapse. From my perspective, what made this victory so impressive was how the Warriors won - through defense, hustle plays, and contributions from across the roster rather than just relying on Curry's brilliance. That's the mark of a truly great team. They demonstrated that championship experience matters, that resilience can overcome talent, and that no series is over until it's actually over. This Game 3 will go down as one of those classic NBA Finals performances that we'll be talking about for years to come, a masterclass in how to respond when your back is against the wall.