In a thrilling showdown at TD Garden on Wednesday night, the Golden State Warriors made a powerful statement, defeating the reigning champion Boston Celtics 118-112. The victory was fueled by a spectacular second-half performance from Stephen Curry and a massive contribution from the bench. This win pushes the Warriors to a 7-1 season record and maintains their perfect streak on the road, proving they are a serious force in the league.
Curry’s Second-Half Explosion Leads the Charge
Stephen Curry had a quiet start to the game, managing only six points in the first half, which left some wondering if a recent ankle injury was still affecting him. However, any doubts were erased when he came out firing after halftime.
Curry turned up the heat, scoring 21 points in the second half alone. He was the answer every time the Celtics tried to build momentum, hitting crucial three-pointers and staying calm at the free-throw line. His leadership was on full display as he guided the Warriors through a tough fourth quarter.
Beyond his scoring, Curry had a complete game, finishing with 27 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds. In a notable personal achievement, he also moved into the 30th spot on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, passing frequent critic Charles Barkley.
Warriors’ Bench Provides a Crucial Spark
The game did not start well for Golden State. The team missed 10 of their first 11 shots, quickly falling behind by 11 points in a hostile Boston environment. The momentum shifted dramatically when coach Steve Kerr turned to his bench.
Gary Payton II and Buddy Hield came in and immediately injected life into the team. Their energy sparked a 16-5 run that brought the Warriors right back into the contest. The bench was the heartbeat of Golden State’s early push, and it wasn’t a fluke. The second unit’s impact was a game-long factor, highlighting the team’s impressive depth.
The Warriors’ bench players were essential to securing the victory.
- The entire bench unit combined for a staggering 49 points.
- Gary Payton II and Buddy Hield provided the initial energy to erase an early deficit.
- Kyle Anderson and Jonathan Kuminga also made key contributions to maintain the lead.
This performance showed that Golden State can rely on its entire roster to win tough games against elite opponents.
Tatum Shines but Celtics’ Comeback Falls Short
Jayson Tatum delivered a stellar performance for the Celtics, seemingly fueled by the energetic home crowd. He was particularly dominant in the third quarter, where he scored 17 of his points to keep Boston in the game.
He finished the night with a game-high 30 points, doing everything he could to will his team to a win. The Celtics as a team exploded for 41 points in the third quarter and even briefly took the lead in the fourth. However, despite Tatum’s heroic efforts, Golden State’s resilience and timely shot-making proved to be too much to overcome.
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Curry (GSW) | 27 | 7 | 9 |
| Jayson Tatum (BOS) | 30 | 8 | 4 |
Boston Fans Voice Frustration with Steve Kerr
An interesting subplot to the game was the TD Garden crowd’s reception for Warriors coach Steve Kerr. Fans greeted Kerr with boos during pregame introductions, a clear sign of lingering frustration over his role as the head coach for Team USA during the Olympics.
Many Boston fans believe Kerr unfairly limited Jayson Tatum’s minutes during the team’s gold medal run. When asked about the boos, Kerr simply shrugged, later saying he had “no regrets” about his coaching decisions that led to a gold medal. While Tatum has publicly downplayed the situation, the crowd’s reaction adds an extra layer of rivalry to future matchups between these two teams.
