When the Warriors unleashed a furious 12-0 run in two-plus minutes late in the third quarter of Game 3 on Wednesday, it felt like déjá vú for the Celtics.
Perhaps Golden State was simply toying with them in the first half once again, only to shred them to smithereens when it mattered most. The Warriors had all the momentum following a Steph Curry avalanche that included a four-point play, and that overwhelming sense of uncertainty crept into every Celtics fan’s psyche just like it did in Game 2. Not again.
This time, though, the Celtics stayed sturdy and responded with a pivotal 20-8 run that paved the way for a signature 116-100 home win.