The Warriors will try to avoid dropping the first two NBA Finals games at home on Sunday night in Chase Center. The way the game’s officiated will play a major factor, as Boston’s defensive physicality can take Golden State out of its rhythm.
Zach Zarba, Tony Brothers and Josh Tiven are assigned to work Game 2, with Ed Malloy as an alternate official. None of them called the series opener.
Only one official worked more regular season Warriors game than Zarba; the Warriors went 5-2 in games he called this season. Zarba, in his ninth Finals, is the crew chief for Sunday night.
Brothers is one of the most experienced refs assigned to the series, in his 28th season and 11th Finals. Tiven, meanwhile, is calling his third Finals.
The Warriors went 3-2 both in Brothers and Tiven games this regular season.
Scott Foster, colloquially known as “The Extender,” appears to be on retainer for when the series heads to Boston.