Series heads to Boston

Warriors lean on experience; Celtics look for home edge

Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors have no problem playing on the road. The Celtics, meanwhile, haven’t been lights-out in Boston during these playoffs.

As the NBA Finals shift to TD Garden for Wednesday’s Game 3 with the series tied at 1, the Celtics ought to have the advantage, but recent numbers suggest otherwise. Boston is 5-4 at home and 8-3 on the road this postseason.

The Warriors, meanwhile, have won at least one away game in 26 consecutive playoff series.

“We always know how to find a way to win games no matter what style it is, high scoring, low scoring, defensive battle, shootout, whatever it is,” Golden State guard Stephen Curry said. “We find another level of grit and determination, just an ability to find a way to get it done. Being in hostile environments, you get tested, you get pushed. Our experience kind of shows at the right time.”

The previous 39 times teams have split the first two games of the Finals, the winner of Game 3 has gone on to win the series 82.1 percent of the time (32-7).

“I think just our playoff experience, our guys understand the importance of making sure you don’t let your guard down in that first (road) playoff game,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “We know they’re going to bring a level of physicality that we brought last game. We got to be prepared for that.”

The Warriors rediscovered their defensive toughness in their Game 2 win, limiting Boston to a playoff-low 88 points. They also forced the Celtics into 19 turnovers. Boston is 1-5 in these playoffs when it’s had 16 turnovers or more; with 15 or fewer giveaways, the Celtics are 12-2.

“Unforced at times, but also over-penetrating. Have to have carryover and consistency in that area,” Celtics coach Ime Udoka said. “That kind of tells a story.”

Boston guard Marcus Smart said the Celtics need to match the intensity of Golden State’s Draymond Green, who got into a pair of skirmishes — first with Grant Williams and then with Jaylen Brown — that seemed to fuel his team.

Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle The Warriors’ Stephen Curry said the team’s experience tends to show at the right time, going 3-4 on the road in the playoffs.