If the goal in the NBA was to just go full bonkers in the third quarter, the Warriors would, in fact, be a dynasty.
The Celtics pulled away from the Dubs in Game 3 of the NBA Finals to take a 2-1 lead. Yet, they were reminded just how absolutely terrifying it can be to defend the Warriors out of the halftime break.
Golden State lit it up yet again in the third quarter, in what's been about the most consistent theme in the series.
And despite the dominance in this particular frame, the Dubs are underdogs in the third quarter betting odds for Game 4.
FanDuel prices the Celtics -130 to win the third quarter Friday while the Warriors are +106. The third-quarter spread, meanwhile, is Boston -0.5 at -105, with an over/under of 52.5.
The Warriors trail in the series but have edged the C's in the third quarter by 14, 21 and most recently, eight points.
Let me reiterate: This is nothing new, at all.
Call it experience, adjustments, star power, whatever. Under Steve Kerr, the Warriors flat-out figure things out in the third. They're 100-plus games into the season and still the league leaders in average third-quarter scoring margin (+2.8).
Golden State has finished among the top four in this category in all but one year in the Kerr Era, including first in five(!) campaigns.
The Warriors' third-quarter team total in Game 4 is 25.5 (over -125, under -105).
The offense averages 28.8 points per game in the third quarter this season, while the Celtics allow their most points of any quarter (26.8) in the third.
