Friday's NBA: Curry scores 43 to beat Boston, Warriors tie Finals 2-2
Boston — Stephen Curry scored 43 points to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 107-97 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday night, sending the series back to San Francisco knotted at two games apiece.
Curry added 10 rebounds and made a pair of baskets during a 10-0 fourth-quarter run that turned a four-point Boston edge into a 100-94 Golden State lead. The Celtics missed six straight shots during that span.
Andrew Wiggins had 17 points and 16 boards for the Warriors, who will host Game 5 on Monday night. They would also hold the home-court advantage in a seventh game, if necessary.
Jayson Tatum had 23 points and 11 rebounds, but managed just one basket while playing the entire fourth quarter. Jaylen Brown scored 21 points and Robert Williams III had 12 rebounds for Boston.
Fans arriving at the TD Garden for what could have been the final time this season found a T-shirt draped over their seats with the 17 NBA championship banners lined up on the front. There was a blank rectangle where the 18th would go.
Now the Celtics would need to win at least one more time in San Francisco to fill in the blank.
The amped-up crowd spent much of the game booing Warriors big man Draymond Green, chanting an obscenity at him that is usually reserved for Bucky Dent, and jeering his many misses. The four-time All-Star shot 1 of 7 but finished with nine rebounds and eight assists to go with two points.
Atkinson agrees to be Hornets next coach
Charlotte, N.C. — The Charlotte Hornets have agreed to terms on a contract with Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson to become their next head coach, according to a person familiar with the situation.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because Atkinson has not yet signed the contract. The Warriors play the Boston Celtics Friday night in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
The 55-year-old Atkinson was 118-190 in three-plus seasons as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets as the organization was undergoing a rebuilding process.
He is the second Golden State assistant to accept a new job during the Warriors’ playoff run this spring. Warriors assistant Mike Brown has taken the job as Sacramento’s new coach, though is remaining with Golden State through the end of the NBA Finals.
Atkinson’s hiring by the Hornets leaves only one current opening in the NBA -- that being Utah, after Quin Snyder made the decision to step down earlier this week.
Atkinson inherits a team that hasn't been to the playoffs since the 2015-16 season and hasn't won a playoff series in more than two decades.
Still, there is talent on the roster to build around.
All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball is considered to be the player the franchise is building around, and guard Terry Rozier, much-improved forward Miles Bridges and veteran forward Gordon Hayward — although he has struggled to stay healthy since joining Charlotte two seasons ago — have all had success in the league.
The Hornets have a glaring need at center, something the franchise is hoping to address this offseason.
The decision concludes an extensive coaching search that included interviews with former Bucks assistant Darvin Ham — who has been hired as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers — Pelicans consultant and longtime NBA coach Mike D'Antoni, former Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts and assistant coaches Sean Sweeney of Dallas, David Vanterpool of Brooklyn and Charles Lee of Milwaukee.
Team owner Michael Jordan made the decision to fire James Borrego as head coach on April 22.
The 44-year-old Borrego was 138-163 in four seasons with the Hornets and had received a multi-year contract extension last August.
The Hornets went 43-39 and finished in 10th place in the Eastern Conference this past season before being blown out in the play-in tournament for the second straight season — something that didn't sit well with Jordan. The 2020-21 season was considered a playoffs-or-bust season for Charlotte, and it failed to advance to a playoff series.