Curry, who had doubts about this game with an injury suffered in the third game, made 14 of his 26 attempts on goal on the field and seven of the 14 out of three. But it was not just his remarkable performance in front of the noisy Boston audience that made this show special. The man who many believe is the best shooter of all time made three-pointers away from contact, hard lay-offs and showed the absurdly silky handles that have made him one of the toughest defensive players in the NBA. Teammate Klay Thompson said he believed Friday’s masterclass was “probably No. 1” among Curry’s best performances in the Finals. “I mean, it was almost a game he had to win,” Thompson told reporters. “And to get out there and shoot as efficiently as he did, and get 10 rebounds and be attacked in defense – I mean his preparation is not up to anyone in this league. “Steph played incredible … Come on to Game 5, we have to help him. Asking him to score 43 a night is ridiculous. “It’s just special to watch what he does,” Thompson added. “He does it so often that you take it for granted, but I’m as fascinated as the rest of the crowd. It seems effortless.” But Curry, who had 10 rebounds and five assists, did not qualify for his individual appearances in the Finals. “I do not rate my performances. I just want to win the game,” Curry told reporters. However, as has been the case for much of this Final series, Curry was once again disappointed with starring teammates Thompson and Draymond Green. Green in particular has been widely criticized by fans and experts, with some suggesting that he seems more concerned with trying to anger opponents than with his appearances on the pitch. Jason Tatum led the Celtics with 23 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, while Jalen Brown had 21 points, six rebounds and two assists. It was just a three-point game in the last 90 seconds after Al Horford scored a huge three-pointer, but the Celtics’ attack remained stagnant in the final stages and they failed to record another point. The teams are now returning to San Francisco for Game 5 on Monday night as the Warriors try to make the most of the pitch.
