NBA Finals 2022: Best sights and sounds from Celtics-Warriors Game 5

We’re going back to Cali. To state the obvious, Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors will be pivotal. We enter Monday’s matchup with the series tied 2-2 and the knowledge that one team will leave the Chase Center one win away from hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy, while the other will have its back against the wall. What is less obvious: How the latest installment of this fascinating series will play out.

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The combined score throughout the first four games is 422-421, with the Warriors holding the ever-so-slight advantage. While Games 1 and 4 were similar in that the road teams used impressive fourth-quarter runs to secure wins, Games 2 and 3 were similar in that they were both relative blowouts.

So now what? Will Stephen Curry put on an encore performance of his spectacular 43-point Friday night outing? Or will Jayson Tatum — who managed just one basket while playing the entire fourth quarter of Game 4 — step up in a big way for the Celtics?

As the series shifts back to the West Coast, we’ve got you covered with the best sights and sounds from Game 5:

Halftime heat check

Boston managed to stick around in this game despite a generally awful offensive performance throughout the first half. The Celtics missed their first 12 3-pointers, eventually finishing the half 3-for-15 from deep, committed 9 turnovers that became 13 Golden State points and went 4-for-9 from the foul line.

Yet, despite all that, Boston only trails by 12 points at halftime.

The focus will now shift to the third quarter, where — if the Celtics want to avoid going down 3-2 in this series — Boston simply has to play better than it has so far.

The Celtics have been mauled in the third in each of the first four games of this series, losing all four quarters and being outscored by a combined 49 points. That includes being outscored by 35 points in the two games back in Boston.

If Boston doesn’t get a different result tonight, this series is headed back to Beantown with Golden State up 3 games to 2. — Tim Bontemps

Celtics’ support system

Miles apart but close at heart. The Celts are getting some serious support in the form of at least one Hall of Famer, 11-time NBA champion, Bill Russell.

If Russell’s show of support wasn’t enough to make Tatum & Co. feel the love, the city of Boston lit-up for the occasion.

HOV in the house

He might be Brooklyn or bust, but that’s not stopping Jay-Z from taking in some championship basketball alongside his daughter, Blue Ivy Carter. Tonight’s courtside appearance marks his second of the series as he was also in attendance at Game 1.

One quarter down

It’s a miracle the Celtics ended the first quarter down 11.

The Warriors shot over 50 percent from the field. Boston went 0-for-5 from 3 and committed four turnovers. Jaylen Brown went 2-for-8 from the field. The Celtics committed a foul, and picked up a technical, with 0.2 on the clock.

And yet, after all that, it’s only 27-16 Warriors. The Celtics clearly will need to play better than they have if they are going to win this game, but the fact they couldn’t have played much worse — and are only down 11 — has to be classified as a win.

Two things to watch on the Warriors side: Andre Iguodala got some first quarter minutes that did not go well whatsoever. And Kevon Looney picked up three fouls in three minutes. Given Looney’s role as a force on the offensive glass throughout these playoffs, that could loom large later on. — Bontemps

The Bay all day

E40 is nothing if not consistent. The rapper, and Bay Area legend, left no doubt who he was rooting for ahead of tonight’s game.

E40 rang the bell here, as has been the pregame tradition at Chase Center. — Ohm Youngmisuk

Jay-Z state of mind

Jay-Z’s “It’s Alright” followed by “Change the Game” were heard pumping out of the speakers outside the Celtics locker room — where there is a mini makeshift workout area as well. Jay-Z is supposed to be in attendance tonight. He was at Chase Center for Game 1 of the Finals. — Youngmisuk

Bring on the fits

Chef Curry has entered the building. The Warriors star kept it casual and clean as he arrived back at his home arena.

Meanwhile, Tatum, who has paid homage to Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan throughout the postseason, looked poised to drop 50, er — was back on his GOAT vibes rocking a T-shirt with Tiger Woods on it. Not only does the shirt boast “TIGER” in large letters, but it features images of the legendary golfer in his signature winning red.