BOSTON - The Golden State Warriors are NBA champions once again, topping the Boston Celtics 103-90 on Thursday night for their fourth title in the past eight seasons.
Stephen Curry scored 34 points and was named MVP of the best-of-seven title series as the Warriors won the franchise's seventh championship overall. This one completed a journey like none other, coming after a run of five consecutive trips to the title series, then a plummet to the bottom of the NBA, and now a return to greatness just two seasons after having the league's worst record.
"We found a way to just get it done," Curry said after the Warriors accepted the championship trophy and celebrated on the court after Game 6.
The Celtics won the series opener in San Francisco to put the Warriors on their heels, then took a 2-1 edge with a 116-10 victory in Boston, but Golden State wouldn't lose again, winning twice on the road.
With tears in his eyes and hoarse with emotion, Curry struggled to speak as he explained what allowed the Warriors to capture their latest crown.
"It's part of a championship pedigree, our experience," he said. "We built this for 10, 11 years. That means a lot when you get to this stage."
For Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala, it's a fourth championship. The first three rings came in 2015, 2017 and 2018, when Golden State was dynastic as a lock to be one of the last two teams standing, making five consecutive trips to the NBA Finals.
"They're all unique, they're all special," coach Steve Kerr said of the multiple titles. "This one might have been the most unlikely. ... It takes a group effort to get it done, and we had a great group."
Injuries, including those that sidelined Thompson for 2 1/2 years, and roster alterations were major challenges that knocked the Warriors down for a while. But this season, with Thompson returning around the midway point, they were finally back.
Back on top, too. Champions, again, denying the storied Celtics what would have been their 18th championship, which would have allowed Boston to break a tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most in league history.
This tale for the Warriors ended much differently than what had been their most recent NBA Finals appearance against the Toronto Raptors in 2019. That year, Kevin Durant tore his Achilles' tendon in Game 5 and then Thompson tore his ACL in Game 6, a Toronto win to clinch the crown.
Then came Durant's decision to leave that summer in free agency to join the Brooklyn Nets and Thompson's own Achilles' injury while rehabilitating his knee.
"It all paid off," Thompson said. "It was dog days, a lot of tears shed. ... You knew it was a possibility, but to see it in real time. It's crazy."
The setbacks thrust Golden State into a rebuild, and the Warriors used their two-year hiatus from the NBA's biggest stages to retool their roster - adding a past No. 1 draft pick in Andrew Wiggins, who excelled in his first NBA Finals, along with another rising star in Jordan Poole.
"This one hits different for sure knowing what the last three years meant, what it's been like," Curry said. "Injuries, the changing of the guard, rosters, the young guys. ... Now we've got four championships. Me, Dray, Klay and Andre.
"Finally got that bad boy," Curry added, referring to the MVP trophy. "It's special. ... Everybody mattered in that process."
It all clicked. For Kerr, it's a ninth championship overall after winning five as a player with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s. He's the sixth coach to capture at least four titles, joining Red Auerbach, Phil Jackson, John Kundla, Gregg Popovich and Pat Riley.
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 34 points, Al Horford added 19 and Jayson Tatum finished with 13 but shot just 6-of-18 from the field. Boston also was charged with 22 turnovers, dropping to 1-8 this postseason when committing 16 or more.
It was just the fifth defeat in 22 trips to the NBA Finals for Boston, which turned its season around to have a chance at this crown. Boston was 25-25, then went on an absolute tear to nearly win what would have been just the second championship since 1986 for the franchise.
It was the third consecutive season the league was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and while things were closer to normal, pictures and video of the championship celebration will serve as a permanent reminder that the coronavirus was still an issue.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver could not be at the game because he remained in the league's health and safety protocols. The redesigned Larry O'Brien Trophy - the golden souvenir given to the NBA champions - was presented to the Warriors by deputy commissioner Mark Tatum instead.
Boston trailed by 22 points but battled back and cut the deficit to to 86-78 on Brown's 3 with 5:33 to play, but the Warriors never relinquished the lead.
"Just couldn't withstand their runs," Celtics center Robert Williams said. "Messing up. They played harder and won tonight."
Curry sent Boston fans streaming toward the exits with his sixth 3 of the night to give the Warriors a commanding lead at 96-81 - then clasped his hands against face as he ran back downcourt, signaling an end to Boston's hopes of extending the series to a seventh game.
"We've had so many great players," Kerr said, "but Steph, ultimately, is why this run happens."