Stephen Curry scored 27 points as the Golden State Warriors (7-1) edged the Boston Celtics (7-2) 118-112 on Wednesday night, extending their winning streak to five games.
Playing in only his second game back from an ankle injury, Curry also added seven rebounds and nine assists to help Golden State improve to 7-1 this season.
The Warriors saw valuable contributions from Buddy Hield and Andrew Wiggins, each scoring 16 points. Hield’s clutch shooting down the stretch helped Golden State maintain its lead in the closing moments, while Wiggins contributed defensively and at the rim. Draymond Green added nine points, six rebounds, and four assists, stabilizing the Warriors on both ends.
Boston’s Jayson Tatum led all scorers with 32 points, including five three-pointers, but his efforts weren’t enough to overcome the Warriors’ balanced attack. Derrick White added 26 points and grabbed six rebounds, keeping the Celtics within striking distance throughout the game.
However, without Jaylen Brown, who missed his third consecutive game due to a strained hip, the Celtics struggled to match Golden State’s depth.
A key moment in the game came with just under a minute to go. After Boston narrowed the gap to two points, Curry’s drive to the basket resulted in a missed layup, but Kevon Looney was there for the put-back, restoring a four-point lead.
Moments later, Hield hit a three-pointer from the right wing, pushing the Warriors’ lead to seven with 46.3 seconds remaining.
Throughout the game, Golden State leveraged their interior play, outscoring Boston 52-36 in the paint. The Warriors’ ability to dominate inside was crucial, especially with Tatum’s and White’s shooting keeping the Celtics close from beyond the arc. Boston connected on 19 of their 54 three-point attempts, with White sinking seven of those, but struggled to generate consistent offense inside.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr was met with boos from the TD Garden crowd, with some fans still vocal about his usage of Tatum during the Paris Olympics.
Golden State’s defense was another standout factor, as they recorded six steals and forced 12 turnovers. Gary Payton II and Moses Moody added pressure on the perimeter, disrupting Boston’s rhythm and creating transition opportunities for Curry and Hield.
The Warriors held Boston’s starting point guard Jrue Holiday to just six points on 3-for-11 shooting, neutralizing a key playmaker.
Boston’s offense appeared sluggish in the first half, with Golden State capitalizing to secure an 11-point lead by halftime. The Celtics eventually found their groove, with Tatum scoring 17 points in the third quarter alone, but the Warriors’ defensive adjustments prevented them from pulling ahead.
Despite the strong individual performances from Tatum and White, the Celtics missed Brown’s versatility and secondary scoring. His absence allowed Golden State’s defenders to zero in on Tatum, limiting his impact late in the game.
Boston forward Al Horford chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds, but the team’s stagnant ball movement hindered their offense.
Kyle Anderson’s free throws with 2.4 seconds remaining ultimately sealed the win for Golden State. Looney finished with six points and ten rebounds, while Anderson provided steady contributions off the bench, including three free throws in the final seconds to fend off Boston’s last-minute push.
