Boston bosses wayward Warriors
OAKLAND, California — The Boston Celtics once again had their way in Golden State’s building on Wednesday night.
Last April, the Celtics wrecked the Warriors’ record 54-game home winning streak. This time, they spoiled Golden State’s lone appearance at Oracle Arena in the midst of a three-week road trip.
Isaiah Thomas scored 25 points while Kelly Olynyk added 17 points, five rebounds and five assists off the bench as Boston beat the sloppy Warriors 99-86.
Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined to shoot just 4 for 17 from 3-point range as Golden State went a pitiful 6 for 30 from downtown and again struggled without injured star Kevin Durant, who spoke to his teammates before the game, wearing a bulky brace on his injured left knee and using crutches.
“They did a good job of guarding the 3,” Thompson said. “Teams know we can kill them from 3.”
Curry had 23 points, five rebounds and six assists, and Thompson scored 25 points as the Warriors’ 10-game home winning streak was snapped — nearly a year after Boston last stunned Golden State at Oracle Arena.
It was the Warriors’ first home loss to an Eastern Conference team this season and fifth in all out of 26 matchups.
“We’re in a tough spot in the schedule and with KD’s injury. Everybody goes through this at some point in the season,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.
“You just make your way through and you let everybody else freak out and panic. You just keep your nose down, keep working and things work out.”
Golden State took a 74-72 lead into the fourth quarter when Curry knocked down a buzzer-beating 3 over rookie Jaylen Brown late in the third, with the two-time reigning MVP pointing at the young forward.
“I didn’t say anything to anyone, to be honest,” Brown said. “I think my defense was doing the talking, I was playing good D until he beat me on that head fake.”
Golden State trailed 76-74 with 8:41 remaining before Draymond Green came slash- ing through the key for a pair of one-handed slams in just over a minute.
Boston, which handed Golden State one of its two home losses last season with a 109106 victory on April 1, kept answering every big play.
Jae Crowder knocked down a 3 for the Celtics and Golden State then committed two straight turnovers that led to four more points as Boston built its cushion to 90-79.
Green made a steal in his career-best 23rd straight game, the longest by a Warriors player since Curry’s 33 consecutive outings last season.
“We’re still on the road trip, that’s the way we look at it,” Kerr said. “This is Game 6 of an eight-game road trip, they just happened to send us to Oakland in between Atlanta and Minnesota. I’m still trying to figure that out.”
Kerr will consider resting players as needed this weekend after checking with the training staff.
Of leaving town again, he said: “It seems kind of crazy, but here we go.”