SAN FRANCISCO — A backdoor pass is intercepted. A crosscourt pass is picked off. A simple dribble handoff is fumbled, and a lob is robbed.
These are the giveaways that have become routine for the Boston Celtics, and one of the central stumbling blocks causing them to be on the brink of giving away this NBA Finals after being up 2-1.
Game 5 on Monday was no different — as they lost to the Golden State Warriors 104-94 to fall down 3-2 — and it involved the usual suspects.
Boston coughed up the ball 18 times for 20 points, leading with Jaylen Brown’s five turnovers and Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart handing the opposition the ball four times apiece.