Warriors defensive prowess past defending-champion Celtics
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) sets to drive against Boston Celtics forward Neemias Queta (88) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
2024.11.06 – Stephen Curry scored 27 points, Buddy Hield had 16 and the Golden State Warriors defensive prowess past the Boston Celtics 118-112 on Wednesday night for their fifth straight victory.
The Warriors have talked since training camp in Hawaii about making defense their identity, Wednesday night in the TD Garden was the night it became true.
Golden State entered the night with the second best defensive rating in the league, but they had only taken care of business against lesser ranking teams. The defending champion Celtics, with the best offense in the league even without Kristaps Porzingis and Jaylen Brown, presented by far their biggest challenge.
And yes… the Warriors proved their defensive prowess is real.
Andrew Wiggins locked up Jayson Tatum for long stretches of the game. The Warriors’ rotations were on-point. Golden State held the Celtics to 16 points in the second quarter and dismal first-half shooting. They recovered from a tough third quarter to clamp down in a back-and-forth fourth.
Wiggins also added 16 points for Golden State (7-1). Curry scored a season-high 27 points and added nine assists, seven rebounds and four steals to upset what’s widely regarded as best team in the NBA.
Curry played his second straight game after missing three with an ankle injury.
Tatum led Boston (7-2) with 32 points, and Derrick White had 26 with six rebounds.
2024.11.06 – Warriors vs. Celtics (NBA Video highlights)
Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket while guarded by Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics and Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics in the third quarter of a game at TD Garden on November 6, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. Adam Glanzman/Getty Images
2024.11.06 – Warriors vs. Celtics (NBA Video highlights)
2024.11.06 – Warriors vs. Celtics (NBA Video highlights)
“Obviously, Boston was without Jaylen Brown and Porzingis, so this is not the best version of their team, but they’re still damn good,” Steve Kerr said post-game. “It’s a hell of a win in a tough environment. We had some guys out, too.”
The game certainly had an intense vibe. Golden State closed out its fourth title in eight years in this building. Boston, after years of routinely playing the Warriors tight, seemed to exorcise their Bay Area demons last year, when they stomped Golden State by 52 here.
With Warriors holding a 115-112 lead, Draymond Green hit a free throw with 11 seconds left. Kyle Anderson sealed it with two free throws with 2.4 seconds to play.
The Celtics got off to an 11-point lead in the opening minutes, the Warriors tightened up defensively, played physical against Tatum and settled in with a 11-point halftime edge.
Celtics usually quick, ball-moving offense, looked somewhat stagnant in the opening half. They picked up the pace, freeing up shots for Tatum, who scored 17 points in the third quarter.
With their lead down to 106-104, Curry’s driving layup was partially blocked, but Kevon Looney had a put-back layup. On the other end, Tatum missed before Hield connected on a right-wing 3-pointer, giving Golden State a seven-point edge with 46.3 seconds left.
2024.11.06 – Warriors vs. Celtics (NBC Sports Post Game)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (#30) center celebrates Buddy Hield (#7) left 3-pointer against Boston Celtics forward Derrick White #9 during the 4thquarter of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
2024.11.06 – Warriors vs. Celtics (NBC Sports Post Game)
2024.11.06 – Warriors vs. Celtics (NBC Sports Post Game)
Warriors coach Steve Kerr was booed by the TD Garden crowd that showed its displeasure over how he used Tatum at the Paris Olympics.
There wasn’t an iota of gratitude in the TD Garden crowd for Coach Kerr, who helped lead Team USA — and three Celtics — to Olympic gold this summer. Celtics fans, bereaved at Kerr’s decision to bench and limit Celtics star Tatum’s playing time in Paris, welcomed the Warriors coach with a chorus of boos. All game, four fans dressed in Tatum USA jerseys sat next to Kerr along the visiting bench.
No regular season game, particularly a November game, should be weighed too much. But the Celtics represented the Warriors’ first true test of the season.
It was ugly early. The Warriors missed ten of their first 11 shots, but Boston didn’t capitalize with the kind of massive first-quarter run they’ve often made this season. They went on a five-minute scoring drought in a sloppy first quarter; Boston shot 31.6% from the floor, while the Warriors shot 29.2%.
Then the Warriors took their first lead of the game with an all-bench unit to start the second. Even without Brandin Podziemski (illness) and De’Anthony Melton (back), Kerr stuck with his full 11-man rotation.
Anderson heat check on their bingo card. To put Golden State ahead, Anderson drilled three 3-pointers in a row. Before that, he was 3-for-16 on the season.
2024.11.06 – Warriors vs. Celtics (Hoops Tonight Post Game)
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, center battles for the ball against Golden State Warriors forward Kevon Looney, left, At right is forward Jonathan Kuminga, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
2024.11.06 – Warriors vs. Celtics (Hoops Tonight Post Game)
2024.11.06 – Warriors vs. Celtics (Hoops Tonight Post Game)
Then the Warriors won the second quarter, 32-16. Moses Moody hauled in an offensive rebound and banked in a runner at the horn to send the Warriors into halftime with a 51-40 lead.
At that point, the Celtics — the most voluminous 3-point shooting team ever — went 6-for-20 from behind the arc and shot 35.1% overall. The Warriors forced them into 10 turnovers, including four from Tatum.
On the defensive end, Wiggins looked like he did in the 2022 NBA Finals. He locked up Tatum in isolation and fought through screens to force contested 3s or long twos. Tatum, who has begun this season on an MVP pace, shot 2-for-7 in the first half.
Green, who has been terrific this season defensively, constantly mucked up the paint with rotations. On one play, Jrue Holiday beat Curry along the baseline, only for Green to cut him off on the block, allowing Curry to recover and strip Holiday. After the swipe, Curry found Moody in the corner for a 3.
Tatum found a rhythm in the third, scoring 17 points in the quarter. Curry nearly matched him with 11, but the Warriors’ defense that swarmed in the first half suddenly surrendered 41 points — and 10 3-pointers and a swath of second-chance scores.
“The offensive rebounds just killed us,” Kerr said. “That’s how they started knocking down 3s.”
Clinging to an 82-81 lead to start the final quarter, the Warriors brought Curry back in for the final eight minutes. He wasn’t on a minutes restriction like he was in Washington, but in only his second game back from a sprained ankle, 34 minutes was certainly a sign of the Warriors going for it.
When Curry checked in for the fourth quarter, the Warriors trailed by four. He sank three free throws and canned a step-back 3 in the corner, drawing the Warriors back within one. The Warriors’ lineup combinations around him skewed toward defense, which once again slowed Boston.
Curry then finished inside to cap an 11-2 Warriors run, before Tatum converted on a one free shot of his foul shot, the Warriors led by two with as many minutes left.
A pair of Looney buckets maintained Golden State’s narrow cushion, then Hield hit a corner 3-pointer, celebrating with Curry as the Warriors pushed its lead to a game-high seven.
The Celtics turned the last two minutes into a free-throw contest, and the Warriors made enough to ice the game. Green, who struggled with his jump shot on the night, hit three of four in the final minute to cement the win.
Tatum, on an anticipated night in which he could have stuck it to Kerr with a huge performance, bowed his head as he walked back to the home locker room.
INJURIES
Boston: Jaylen Brown missed his third straight game with a strained left hip flexor.
Warriors: guard Brandin Podziemski was out with an illness.
UP NEXT
Warriors: At Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night. (GSW ROSTER)
Celtics: Host the Brooklyn Nets.
Related – See : Warriors rout the Trail Blazers in season-opener
Related – See below: 2022 Warriors NBA Finals Champions
Read more at: Golden State Warriors Media Services / More AP NBA
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
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2022 Warriors NBA Finals Champions