After the Boston Celtics landed the first punch of the NBA Finals with a comeback win in Game 1, the Golden State Warriors answered with an emphatic counter in Game 2.
Now things really get interesting as the series shifts to Boston for Game 3 on Wednesday. The TD Garden crowd is sure to be amped for its first Finals game since 2010, despite the late 9 p.m. start on the East Coast.
The Celtics stole home-court advantage with their win in the opener, but they’ve hardly been world beaters at TD Garden this postseason. They’re 5-4 at home, with two wins against the Nets in their first-round sweep, and lost twice each to the Heat and Bucks in the last two series.
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The Warriors have won at least one road game in an NBA-record 26 consecutive playoff series, dating to the 2013 first round.
Who has the edge heading into Game 3? Here is everything you need to know for Wednesday’s game, including broadcast information and key X-factors for each team.
What TV channel is broadcasting the 2022 NBA Finals?
Game 3 of the 2022 NBA Finals will be nationally televised on ABC at 9 p.m. ET.
What is the schedule for the 2022 Finals?
(All times Eastern; ** If necessary)
Game 1: Celtics 120, Warriors 108, Chase Center, San Francisco.
Game 2: Warriors 107, Celtics 88, Chase Center, San Francisco.
Game 3: June 8, 9 p.m., TD Garden, Boston.
Game 4: June 10, 9 p.m., TD Garden, Boston.
Game 5: June 13, 9 p.m., Chase Center, San Francisco.
**Game 6: June 16, 9 p.m., TD Garden, Boston.
**Game 7: June 19, 8 p.m., Chase Center, San Francisco.
How do you stream the 2022 NBA Finals?
Game 3 of the championship series can be live streamed at ESPN.com and ESPN+. Streaming is also available on FuboTV.
Who are the X-factors for Game 3?
Golden State’s Klay Thompson
We all know Thompson is still working his way back from missing 2½ seasons due to injuries. So, no one is expecting pre-injury Klay just yet. However, he is averaging just 13 points against Boston and shooting just 10-for-33 (30.3%) from the field and 4-for-15 on 3s (26.7%). He was 4-for-19 and 1-for-8 in Game 2. Thompson is committed to defense, so that isn’t a problem. Thompson has had three 30-point games in the playoffs, including 32 in Game 5 against Dallas in the Western Conference finals. At some point, the Warriors will need a scoring lift from Thompson.
Boston’s Grant Williams
Williams has just six points through two games of the Finals, including zero in Game 1, and he has taken just four shots. The Warriors have outscored the Celtics by 19 points with Williams on the court in the series. Williams isn’t a huge scorer for the Celtics — 9.4 points per game in the playoffs — but he’s shooting 40.7% on 3-pointers. He has had random big game in this postseason: 17 against Brooklyn in the first round, 21 and 27 in Games 1 and 7 against Milwaukee in the Eastern Conference semifinals and three double-digits scoring games against Miami in the conference finals, including 19 in Game 2. The Celtics will benefit from his scoring.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Celtics-Warriors NBA Finals Game 3: Live stream, TV channel, time
