After two nasty losses to the Pacers and Utah, the Warriors responded in style to the best team in the league. A victory that feels good before starting a six-game road trip to the East which promises to be full-bodied. Like Jayson Tatum, the Celtics, deprived of Al Horford, had their worst game of the season.
It was Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, who intercepted and against Jayson Tatum, who started the hostilities. The intensity is there on both sides but the adrenaline of the players translates into disastrous shot selection from Klay Thompson, Jordan Poole, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown. We have to wait for a heat stroke from Stephen Curry at the end of the first quarter to see the Warriors make a first gap (33-25).
Only Malcolm Brogdon plays with an applied local defense but seven points from Jordan Poole brings the gap to +11 (44-33). This is the moment chosen by Boston to harden its defense but each time they return to two possessions, Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry make the powder speak (65-54). The awakening of Jason Tatum in defense allows him to find his rhythm and come to support an explosive Jaylen Brown. The Celtics cause four stray balls from their opponents and they return to the locker room at -5 (68-63).
Like a skilful and active rebounding Blake Griffin, the Celtics confirm their momentum but they then shoot themselves in the foot by giving two lay-ups in a row to Thompson and Poole who played the carrot to see the gap go back to +10 (84-74). Five points in a row from the Splash Brothers drive the point home a little more while a lost ball from Jayson Tatum symbolizes the difficulties of the Celtics (95-81).
Golden State’s second five does not release the pressure and increases the gap to +17 but the Celtics do not give up. Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown raise their voices and Boston passes a 13-4 to the Warriors to throw a cold in the Chase Center (107-99). With less than five minutes to play, Jayson Tatum has the opportunity to doubt Golden State but he misses two free throws. Instead of returning to -6, the Celtics concede a 7-0 which puts them this time KO
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The hospitality of the Splash Brothers. If the Celtics had a desire for revenge when they arrived at the Chase Center, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were waiting for them. Both guards produced an explosive first half with 16 of 26 on shots, including 6 of 11 from 3-pointers. That’s as much as the entire Boston team! Their 41 points combined set the tone for a Golden State team ready to take on the best team in the league.
– The two missed free throws that tipped the money time. At -17 in the last quarter, the Celtics had managed to find a second wind to inflict a 13-4 on the Warriors who were beginning to lose their cool. With five minutes left, Boston had already been in the bonus for several minutes. A foul away from Di Vincenzo’s ball on Tatum was to give the Celtics two more points to bring them down to 6 points. Tatum, who has 86% success in free throws this season, misses both. This failure cut short the last stand of his team and the Warriors rushed into the breach to regain their distance and put the lid on a match they mastered from start to finish.
– The Warriors’ defense suffocates the league’s best offense. Since the start of the season, the Celtics’ offense have marched on the NBA with historic efficiency. Opposite, the Warriors struggled to lay the foundations of their defensive identity, and yet tonight they found the resources and rigor to dominate Boston. Behind Draymond Green and Kevon Looney, they limited Boston to 43% success, including only 30% at 3-point range and 17 assists (against 49%, 40%, and 27 on average this season). It’s only the fourth time Boston has scored 107 points or less this season.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Klay Thompson. The “Splash Brother” lives for the big meetings and this night he answered present. He scored 24 of his 34 points in the first half but also made a defensive copy worthy of the All-Star he once was.
✅ Stephen Curry. The Warriors star played fair the entire game. He let Poole and Thompson ignite the game before regaining control to put the Dubs’ house in order. He finished with 32 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds on 57% shooting.
✅ Jaylen Brown. As in the Finals, Brown was ultra aggressive and was the only Celtic to float against the Warriors defence. He finished with 31 points at 13/23 on shots and 9 rebounds.
✅ ⛔Jordan Poole. Explosive from the first minutes, Poole, established in the absence of Wiggins, certainly scored 20 points but only 31% success on an extremely dubious shot selection.
⛔ Jayson Tatum. The Celtics star has plunged back into his June nightmare. Even without Wiggins up front, he could never find his groove. He finished with 18 points but 6/21 on shots.
THE FOLLOWING
Golden State (14-13) : The Warriors begin a six-game road trip in Milwaukee on Tuesday.
Boston (21-6): The Celtics travel to Los Angeles on Monday to face the Clippers.
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