SAN FRANCISCO — For all the talk about Gary Payton II’s status, the returns of Otto Porter Jr. and Andre Iguodala proved to be much more impactful for the Warriors in Game 1 of the NBA Finals Thursday night.
Golden State upgraded Payton, Porter, and Iguodala to available after all were initially listed as questionable because of injuries. Payton, who is recovering from a fractured left elbow suffered in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals, dominated the headlines — and rightfully so — for his abilities as a lockdown perimeter defender.
But Payton didn’t end up checking into the game, spending all 48 minutes on the bench.
Porter, however, played 24 minutes, his first action since missing the final two games of the West finals with a foot injury. Before getting sidelined, he was a regular member of Golden State’s rotation, averaging a little more than 20 minutes per game.
At 6 feet 8 inches, Porter gives the Warriors additional size and defensive versatility. He can also help stretch the floor as a 3-point shooter.
In the first half of Game 1, Porter made all three of his 3-point attempts and also grabbed three defensive rebounds. He finished the game 4 of 5 from behind the arc for 12 points. He also recorded two steals, including one in which he ripped the ball out of the hands of Celtics center Robert Williams following an offensive rebound.
“Otto played really well,” said Draymond Green. “He shot the ball well.”
Iguodala also saw playing time, receiving a nice ovation when he entered the game. At 38, Iguodala is still a valuable member of Golden State’s roster for his savviness and defensive prowess. He hadn’t played since Game 4 of the first round, but he made 3 of 4 shots, including a 3-pointer, and dished three assists in 12 minutes.
“Andre was great,” coach Steve Kerr said. “He’s got Finals experience. He gets us settled down. He’s a great defender. I thought Andre did a really good job out there.”
With Porter and Iguodala back in the mix, the Warriors are able to round out a strong eight-man rotation. If Payton can return later in this series, he would provide a boost to Golden State’s depth and defense.
Leading up to Game 1, Payton kept his remarks about his pending availability vague but said he was close to feeling more like himself. Kerr noted that the nature of Payton’s injury allowed him to maintain his conditioning throughout his recovery.
“Over the last few weeks, I’ve watched him after every practice doing defensive slides and sprints and handling the ball with his off hand, and then slowly but surely he’s been able to progress into lefthanded layups and then short shots,” Kerr said. “He’s kind of progressed further out over the last few days. It’s inspiring to watch him work, knowing how much he wants to play and how much this means to him, especially given his journey and how much he’s bounced around to get to this place.”
There is extra rest built into the Finals schedule, so perhaps the two days off between Games 1 and 2 will benefit Payton.
Unfamiliar territory
Boston’s 120-108 victory dropped Golden State’s win-loss record in Game 1s to 21-3 during Kerr’s tenure. Heading into Thursday, the Warriors’ only Game 1 losses under Kerr were in the Western Conference finals against Oklahoma City in 2016 and in the NBA Finals against Toronto in 2019. The Warriors beat the Thunder in seven but lost to the Raptors in six.
“I’m still upset about the two,” Kerr said before tip-off. “I dwell on those two.”
So, how does that change things now that the Warriors are in the rare position of playing from behind in a series?
“It’s different, for sure,” Kerr said. “When you win Game 1 at home, there’s a sense of comfort. You kind of have a feel for your opponent at that point. You make your adjustments. It’s a different feeling. Obviously, you go into Game 2 with more of a sense of desperation. But that’s all part of this stuff.”
Green said the Warriors welcome the challenge.
“It’s nothing to panic about,” he said. “It’s the first team to win four games. Not the first to win one.”
The winner of Game 1 of the Finals has gone on to win the championship 70.7 percent of the time. Boston’s win also ruined Golden State’s 9-0 record at the Chase Center this postseason.
Rain man
Warriors point guard Stephen Curry turned in a historic first quarter, making 6 of 8 3-point attempts in the opening 12 minutes, tallying 21 points — the most in a Finals quarter since Michael Jordan in 1993. Curry’s six 3-pointers set a record for most in any quarter of an NBA Finals game.
Nicole Yang can be reached at nicole.yang@globe.com. Follow her on X @nicolecyang.