The Golden State Warriors have pulled off an unexpected victory at the Boston Celtics. The team around Stephen Curry won 118:112 and thus inflicted the first regular-season defeat of the season on the reigning champion.
Previously, the Celtics had only lost to the Indiana Pacers after overtime, but now the reigning champions have also conceded their first home defeat of the season so far. Boston was still missing Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, who missed his third game in a row with a hip problem. Kristaps Porzingis, who has been out with a long-term injury, was also still missing.
But even without them, the Celtics had their chances, taking the third quarter 41-31 and converting ten threes. Jayson Tatum scored 17 of his 32 points here and helped the Celtics chip away at the 14-point deficit and take the lead again in the final quarter.
But Stephen Curry was back on the scene for the Warriors. The Dubs’ playmaker scored ten of his 27 points in the final twelve minutes, while Buddy Hield (16) added an important three in crunch time. Free throws from Draymond Green (9) and Kyle Anderson (11) in the final seconds secured the win.
NBA: Warriors nestle in the lead
Boston again took a whopping 54 three-pointers, with 19 of them going through the net. Derrick White (26) converted seven of them, while nothing worked for Jrue Holiday (6, 8 assists, 0/6 three-pointers). The Warriors also had the deeper team, with three players scoring in double figures off the bench. Center Kevon Looney (6, 10 rebounds) added another important play with a putback in the final minute.
The Warriors now have a record of 7-1 and share first place in the West with the Phoenix Suns and the Oklahoma City Thunder, who lost in Denver for the first time this season. The Celtics are second in the East behind the undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers (9-0).