Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry lead Warriors to victory over Celtics

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 10: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors shoots and scores over Jaylen Brown #7 and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on December 10, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
By Anthony Slater and Jared Weiss
Dec 11, 2022

Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry combined for 66 points on 10 3-pointers to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 123-107 victory over the Boston Celtics in a rematch of last season’s NBA Finals. Here’s what you need to know:

  • Thompson had a game-high 34 points, a career-high against the Celtics, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block on 4-of-11 from long range.
  • The Warriors have won six of their last 10 games.
  • All-Star Andrew Wiggins was sidelined for Golden State with right thigh tightness.

Backstory

This is their first matchup since the Warriors defeated the Celtics in six games in the NBA Finals last season. Jaylen Brown paced Boston with 31 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and one steal, shooting 13-of-23 from the field. Jayson Tatum struggled in the loss, scoring 18 points on 6-of-21 shooting.

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Curry went for 32 points, seven assists, six rebounds and one block on 6-of-11 shooting from 3-point range. Golden State outrebounded the Celtics 53-39, as Boston shot just 12-of-40 from the 3-point line. Warriors improve to 14-13 with the win and the Celtics fall to 21-6, still a league-best.

What’s it mean for the Warriors?

Draymond Green was calling it a ‘statement win’ as he walked down the tunnel 10 minutes after the final buzzer. Golden State needed it for a potential kickstart. They entered 13-13, in a below average tier of the muddled West. They’ve found some rotation answers recently, but needed a punctuation point to believe maybe they’re gaining some traction. An ABC end-to-end win over Boston qualifies, especially without Wiggins, their best wing defender. It also maintains a mental edge over the Celtics, if you believe in such things, should the two meet in the Finals again.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he likes where they’re headed, “The guys off the bench are starting to play and assume their roles. Our defense seems to be getting better. All that points in a good direction.” — Slater

Evaluating the Celtics’ performance

The Celtics locker room tends to be loose after a game, but the silence was deafening in the Chase center Saturday night. Most of the players wouldn’t admit it, but Brown conceded after the game that he had this one circled for some time. The Celtics have transformed this season while the Warriors have been endlessly erratic. Everything looks like it’s changed.

But on this night, they were right back in June. Boston couldn’t move the ball without a blue jersey blocking their path. Even when they created open shots, they didn’t fall. This wasn’t their night, even if it has been their season. — Weiss

Highlight of the game

 

Key stat

With the win, the Warriors are tied with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the best home record in the NBA (12-2).

Required reading

(Photo: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty)

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