Saturday evening in San Francisco, the Warriors had the Celtics on their heels all through the sport. 

Between Golden State’s free-flowing offense and Boston’s bigs enjoying in deep drops to defend the pick-and-roll, the hosts repeatedly generated high-quality photographs, dictating phrases and processing the sport sooner.

Stephen Curry, who registered 32 factors on 12/21 taking pictures, capitalizing on 6/11 threes, discovered his rhythm after a protection breakdown within the first body the place the guests misplaced him in transition, and he cashed in on an open three. Utilizing that shot as a springboard, the two-time MVP generated eight factors in 1:20.

Curry, who has a knack for drilling the photographs that sting most, crossed up Sam Hauser earlier than burying a step-back three from 32 toes to beat the first-quarter buzzer, turning his again to his try and working in the direction of the group on the reverse baseline because it splashed by way of the web. That prolonged the Warriors’ benefit to 33-25 after the opening 12 minutes.

And with the Celtics on a 7-0 run, reducing the deficit to 4 because the second body neared its shut, Curry swished a pull-up three from 33 toes, swiftly swinging momentum again to Golden State, serving to the hosts take a 68-63 lead into the break.

He entered halftime with 17 factors, then tacked on 15 extra within the remaining 24 minutes. With defenders failing to remain hooked up to him, bigs enjoying under the extent of the display screen, and people guarding him committing the cardinal sin of going beneath the decide at occasions, he persistently created open appears whereas enjoying on and off the ball. 

Curry additionally dished out seven assists and grabbed six rebounds.

The hosts acquired a game-high 34 factors from fellow Splash Brother, Klay Thompson, who produced 12 factors in every of the primary two quarters and repeatedly acquired free for floaters and mid-range jumpers.

Like Thompson, Jordan Poole, who registered 20 factors, did a lot of his harm within the first half. Poole scored 13 within the first 24 minutes, persistently stepping into the paint, repeatedly ending floaters with a feathery contact. 

Boston wants to check this sport totally to greatest put together itself for the rematch at TD Backyard on Jan 19 and the chance these two groups meet once more within the Finals. But when searching for a constructive defensively, it is that if the Celtics have Robert Williams, whose season debut might come as early as Monday towards the Clippers, and Al Horford subsequent time, their pick-and-roll protection figures to look dramatically higher. 

Offensively, Boston was at its greatest within the second body, the one one it scored not less than 30 factors, placing 38 on the board whereas helping on seven of 14 discipline targets. The guests additionally took 9 free throws and made eight, serving to them generate over 60 factors within the first half for the ninth time within the final ten video games.

However even with out Andrew Wiggins, the defending champions had Jayson Tatum flummoxed all through the evening. The Warriors made it a degree to point out the Celtics’ star a number of our bodies when he touched the ball, which had Tatum transferring like he was sporting cement footwear.

He scored two factors on 1/6 taking pictures within the first quarter. He had ten at halftime, going 4/12 from the sector, together with 1/5 from past the arc. When the ultimate buzzer blew, Tatum tallied 18 factors on 21 photographs, making solely six, and going 2/9 on long-range makes an attempt.

Boston wanted Tatum to play extra assertively. It additionally would’ve helped if he had taken a backseat to Jaylen Brown on Saturday, taking pictures much less and facilitating extra.

Brown scored 16 factors on 7/13 taking pictures within the first half, then produced 15 whereas going 6/10 within the second. Alongside together with his 31 factors, he additionally led the staff in rebounding, grabbing 9 boards. He additionally dished out three assists — Tatum had two.

The Celtics’ new sixth man, Malcolm Brogdon, did his half to maintain Boston within the sport, registering 16 factors on 6/10 taking pictures, making 2/4 threes, pairing it with 5 rebounds and 4 assists.

However with Golden State’s protection limiting the effectiveness of Boston’s ball motion, the Celtics, who common almost 27 assists per sport, distributed solely 17. Hockey assists had been as frequent as Halley’s Comet. 

With the Warriors making it harder for Boston to create in-rhythm photographs, the staff that makes probably the most photographs from past the arc and boasts the best three-point taking pictures proportion within the NBA went 12/40 (30 p.c) on its long-range makes an attempt.

Taking part in the sport with a slower processing pace whereas your star struggles and the opposition’s is drilling one three after one other makes it arduous sufficient to earn a win. Golden State being the extra bodily staff and outhustling their friends made a Celtics victory much more unlikely.

The Warriors turned 11 offensive rebounds into 21-second likelihood factors and scored 46 from contained in the paint. And within the second half, they saved Boston off the boards even because the Celtics despatched 4 gamers after their misses, resulting in Golden State’s perimeter defenders leaking out for uncontested layups.

Fourteen of the Warriors’ 19 fast-break factors got here within the second half, serving to them closeout their 123-107 win.

Up Subsequent

The Celtics’ West Coast highway journey subsequent takes them to Los Angeles, first for a matchup towards the Clippers Monday. The sport ideas off at 10:30 pm EST. Inside The Celtics could have content material associated to the sport popping out earlier than, throughout, and after. And comply with @BobbyKrivitsky on Twitter for updates and evaluation from pregame to submit.

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