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The Golden State Warriors returned home on Monday night for a crucial Game 5 against the Boston Celtics and needless to say, they did not disappoint. Despite a forgettable night from superstar Stephen Curry, the Dubs secured the 104-94 win, moving one step closer to an NBA title.
Now, the Warriors head back to Boston for the possible series-clincher, holding a 3-2 lead in the Finals. Here are the 3 players who played heroes in Monday's contest.
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3 biggest Warriors heroes in Game 5 vs. Celtics
There is no way Andrew Wiggins isn't the top dog on this list. For the second game in a row, the former first overall pick showed out in a big way. But this time, it was Wiggins who carried the Warriors to the finish line. The Canadian posted a phenomenal stat line of 26 points, 13 rebounds, and two assists while shooting 12 for 23 from the field. Wiggins actually went 0 for 6 from downtown but instead, he did all of his damage inside. The 27-year-old got downhill on a consistent basis and attacked the cup, with the Celtics having absolutely no answer for his dominance. Wiggins also put his athleticism on full display, throwing down several huge dunks and even a couple of impressive layups where he switched hands mid-air.
Then defensively, Wiggins was a pest for the Warriors. He notched two steals and used his superior length to really disrupt Boston's game plan as they turned the ball over a total of 18 times. Some people are thinking Wiggins should be the Finals MVP over Steph if he continues to play at a high level and Golden State wins a chip. While that seems a bit premature given how Curry has performed throughout the series, there is no question Wiggins is to thank for this victory. He finally showed why he was the first overall pick in 2013.
It wasn't so much if but when will Draymond Green bounce back. Before Game 5, the Warriors veteran had just 17 points and 18 fouls through the first four contests of the Finals. In Games 2 and 3, Green collected four points combined. One of the biggest storylines in this series has been his struggles, but it was only a matter of time until Draymond put together a signature outing.
On Monday, Green compiled eight points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Not huge numbers, but his impact goes way further than the stat sheet. Draymond did a tremendous job of attracting defenders and opening up cutters, using his impressive facilitating abilities to notch numerous dimes. He also locked the Celtics down defensively and you could just see he had far more confidence in his own building. His personality and fingerprints were all over this victory. It will be interesting to see if Green can overcome the hostility in Boston on Thursday and replicate his performance. The Warriors certainly need him to do his thing on both ends of the floor and on the bench.
It hasn't been a great Finals for one of the best shooters ever, but Klay Thompson certainly made his presence felt in Game 5. The 32-year-old finished with 21 points, the second-most on the Warriors roster, draining 5 of his 11 attempts from downtown. Whether it was a catch and shoot three or an open look, Klay was locked in. He also made some tough shots in the paint and frankly just had another level of focus.
On a night where Curry didn't hit a single triple, the Warriors needed Thompson to rise to the occasion and pick up the slack from deep. He did just that and it's a big reason Golden State is just one win away from their fourth championship since 2015.
