The Boston Celtics (14-2) beat 92:88 (BOXSCORE) against the Golden State Warriors (11-4) in a game that is not always nice to watch, but very intense and exciting. The defense dominates on both sides, Boston has to recover several times from large arrears. In the end, however, the Celtic triumphant march continues.
The eagerly awaited duel between the Association’s currently best teams kept its promise. The better start to the game was made by Golden State. The visitors from the West Coast nipped Celtics’ offensive efforts in the first half of the season in the bud. Thanks to the fast switching play, the Dubs developed a 17-point lead in the second round.
However, Celtics’ defenses are not considered one of the best of the NBAs for nothing. Boston also closed its own basket with some highlight-play, especially by Jaylen Brown. In the last five minutes of the first half, Golden State did not score a single field goal. After a 15:3 race to break tea, the Celtics were again within striking distance (47:42 GSW).
Throughout the entire season, however, the Warriors were already extremely strong in the third leg, which initially continued against Boston. From the point of view of the guests, a few threesome finally fell, led by Kevin Durant (24 points), Golden State in the middle of the quarter again had to show a 17-point advantage.
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Brown obviously didn’t want to let that sit on him. With a total of 22 points (3/8 threesomes) and 7 rebounds – 3 of them on the offensive board – he brought his team back into the game almost on his own. With an impressive 19-0 run, Boston even took the lead for a short time.
In the final section, no team was able to make a decisive break in the final stage, and a real defensive thriller developed. After all, it was Kyrie Irving who made a trip to the free-throw line with a nice drive and put Boston in front 14 seconds before the end with 2 points. After Durant then set up a fade-away jumper on the ring, Boston brought the 14th place. Victory in a row from the Charity Stripe home – the longest winning streak of the Celts since 2010!
Irving showed some light and even more shade. The Point Guard was only in the crunchtime, before he had some problems with his litter (4/16 FG). In total Irving got 16 points and 6 assists. However, during the first half he put aside his face mask, which had significantly obstructed him before. Al Horford (18 points, 11 rebounds) also showed a strong performance alongside Irving and Brown. On the side of the Warriors, Steph Curry (9 points) and Klay Thompson (13 points) were particularly disappointing. The winning streak of 7 games for the reigning champion ended with this.
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Jaylen Brown. At both ends of the court he gave his team an important push. The wing defended very well on the one hand, but at the same time he got Celtics back on track with his strong performance in the offense. Without him, the double comeback of Celtics would certainly not have been possible. Especially since Irving had to fight over long distances.
Steph Curry. That was nothing of the Warriors’ noble shooter. In the first game after his thigh injury, Curry didn’t really present himself in top form. His litter simply didn’t want to fall: only 3 of his 14 attempts found their way through the Reuse, from downtown Curry stood at 2/9. In addition to his meager 9 points, the Point Guard came up with 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals (with 4 turnovers).
The best defense in the league? That was the impression left by the Warriors, not the Celts, that night. With many switches and occasional – but very effective – double teams, Golden State made life difficult for the hosts. Although Boston moved the spalding well through their own ranks, they seldom had open throws due to the strong close-outs of the dubs. But Boston is not the top of the NBA’s defensive ranking for nothing. Golden State also had problems with the physical defence of the hosts, but the reigning champion left some open throws.