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Celtics overcome 17-point deficit, end Warriors’ win streak at seven

By

Kerry Crowley

/

Steve Kerr called the Celtics the best team in the NBA.

Technically, he was right.

Though the Warriors entered Thursday evening’s nationally televised showdown riding a seven-game win streak, Brad Stevens’ Celtics started the night with the NBA’s best record at 13-2. Even without star forward Gordon Hayward, who suffered a devastating injury in the first quarter of Boston’s season-opener, the Celtics were an unstoppable force through the first month of the season.

On Thursday, it finally looked like the Celtics would be stopped. Golden State held a 17-point third quarter lead, and Boston was left for dead. Or so the Warriors thought. After a 19-0 run erased the deficit, point guard Kyrie Irving drove the lane and earned a trip to the foul line to knock down two freebies in the game’s final minute to push Boston to a 92-88 win.

Despite the Celtics’ recent run of success, the Warriors appeared unfazed in the first quarter, using several backdoor cuts to generate early offense including one from Kevin Durant to score their first bucket of the game.

The Warriors flummoxed the Celtics’ defense for much of the first quarter, capitalizing on early energy and fresh legs to open up a 10-point advantage. Golden State’s pick and rolls were effective, and aside from eight early points from Durant, the Warriors also received a boost from backup shooting guard Nick Young.

Following a rough start to the season, Young has become a critical force with the Warriors’ second unit, stealing minutes from second-year guard Patrick McCaw and offering Kerr a sharpshooting presence from the perimeter when Steph Curry or Klay Thompson needs a rest. On Thursday, Young knocked down a pair of early threes, and also tossed up a heat check after a Boston turnover.

Young wasn’t the only Warriors’ reserve to provide a lift during the first half, either. As Curry and Thompson got off to slow starts, Golden State built up its lead thanks to strong play from center David West and guard Andre Iguodala.

West has made the most of his limited minutes this season, and on Thursday, he came up with a highlight-reel lay in after drawing a foul and muscling his way toward the basket.

The Warriors’ greatest boost, though, came from Iguodala, who practically submitted his resume for the NBA Dunk Contest during the first half. Early in the second quarter, Iguodala found himself on the front end of a fastbreak, and after taking a pass that was slightly behind him, he rose up and threw down a vicious one-handed slam to punctuate the Warriors’ early lead.

Iguodala’s dunk elicited a strong reaction from Golden State’s bench, as every player came to their feet to celebrate the Warriors’ veteran.

Though Golden State held a 16-point lead with five minutes to go in the first half, the Celtics closed the second quarter on an extended 16-3 run thanks to a strong stretch from Al Horford and Jaylen Brown as the pair combined for nine points in the waning minutes of the quarter.

That run suggested that Boston might be able to hang with Golden State during the second half of Thursday’s contest, but as the Warriors have done in each of their past seven games over the last two weeks, they took off during the third quarter and opened up a 17-point advantage midway through the frame. However, the Celtics had a reason to keep their faith, because early in the third, Curry picked up his fourth foul, sending the centerpiece of the Warriors’ offense to the bench and giving Boston a breath of life.

Massive third quarter leads are nothing new to Golden State. But for the first time in weeks, the Warriors received a legitimate challenge, and they didn’t respond well.

Boston wound up bursting out for a 19-0 run to take a 68-66 lead, as Golden State blanked on 11 straight possessions before reserve forward Omri Casspi hit a driving layup to tie the game at 68-68 with 34 seconds left in the quarter.

Though the Warriors jumped out to an early four-point edge in the fourth quarter, the Celtics kept the see-saw affair rolling after Jayson Tatum hit three free throws following a Durant shooting foul to give Boston a 77-76 lead halfway through the quarter. Two minutes later, a Curry three gave the Warriors a four-point lead, but again, Boston raced back with four quick points to tie the score.

The game continued to go back and forth, but ultimately, Irving’s late drive and the Warriors’ failure to answer made the difference.

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