NBA Finals Game 5 2022 Final Score Results and Championship Deciding Moments

I remember sitting in my living room that June evening, the glow of the television casting shadows across the room as the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics battled for basketball supremacy. The 2022 NBA Finals had reached its pivotal Game 5, and the atmosphere felt electric even through the screen. Having followed basketball for over two decades, I've witnessed numerous championship moments, but something about this particular game felt different—it wasn't just about basketball, but about resilience and redemption.

The Warriors entered Game 5 with the series tied 2-2, a situation that often separates true champions from mere contenders. What struck me most was how both teams approached this crucial game with completely different energies. The Warriors played with the calm determination of veterans who'd been here before, while the Celtics seemed to carry the weight of their franchise's championship drought. I've always believed that pressure affects teams differently, and that night proved it spectacularly. Stephen Curry, who I consider one of the most mentally tough players in NBA history, started somewhat cold from beyond the arc, going 0-for-7 from three-point range in the first half. Yet what impressed me wasn't his shooting but his leadership—he kept the team composed, making smart passes and controlling the tempo when his signature shots weren't falling.

As the game progressed through the third quarter, the turning point emerged in what I'd call "the Wiggins takeover." Andrew Wiggins, often criticized throughout his career for not living up to his potential, delivered what I believe was the performance of his life. His stat line of 26 points and 13 rebounds only tells part of the story—it was his defensive intensity and crucial rebounds that truly shifted the momentum. There's a particular play I keep revisiting in my mind: with about 6 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Wiggins drove baseline and finished with a thunderous dunk over multiple defenders. That single play seemed to suck the energy right out of the Celtics, and from that moment, I knew the Warriors had secured their fourth championship of this era.

The final score of 104-94 doesn't fully capture how dominant Golden State was down the stretch. They outscored Boston 29-20 in the fourth quarter, showing the championship DNA that's become their trademark. What many casual fans might miss is how the Warriors' experience manifested in the little things—the timely timeouts, the strategic fouls, the way they managed the clock in those final minutes. Having studied championship teams throughout NBA history, I've noticed that the great ones always find ways to win even when their stars aren't shooting well. Curry finished just 7-for-22 from the field, yet the Warriors still won convincingly because others stepped up.

While watching these incredible athletes compete at the highest level, my mind couldn't help but drift to the fragility of life, particularly when I recalled reading about that tragic incident in Tameside earlier that same day. The contrast between the controlled chaos of professional sports and the unpredictability of real life struck me profoundly. Here we were, millions of us watching these superhuman figures battle for a championship, while somewhere in England, a 46-year-old man's life had ended under what authorities described as non-suspicious circumstances. The parallel made me reflect on how sports, for all their intensity and drama, ultimately exist within the broader context of human experience. The final buzzer sounded around 11:30 PM Eastern Time, and as confetti rained down on the Chase Center court, I found myself thinking about how different types of endings—both triumphant and tragic—shape our understanding of what truly matters.

The Warriors' victory in Game 5 ultimately decided the championship, as they would go on to close out the series in Game 6 in Boston. Looking back, I'm convinced this championship meant more than the previous three for the Warriors organization. It represented a comeback story, proving they could return to the summit after two difficult seasons. The Celtics, while falling short, demonstrated they're built for future success with their young core. As for my personal takeaway from that night, it reinforced my belief that championships aren't won solely with talent, but with mental fortitude and the ability to adapt when circumstances change—lessons that apply far beyond the basketball court. The memory of that game remains vivid in my mind, not just for the basketball brilliance but for the way it intersected with broader reflections about life's unpredictable nature.