Celtics 99, Warriors 103

Game Highlights

Photo of the Game

Rajon Rondo takes a runner in the lane over three Warriors defenders.
Jed Jacobsohn/NBAE/Getty

By Marc D'Amico
Celtics.com

Key Moment

If a team is coming back from an 18-point deficit in a Celtics game, it's usually Boston playing the role of comeback kid. But tonight, after dominating the Warriors in the first quarter, they were the team who had their win spoiled.

The Cetics outscored Golden State 35-22 in the first but had the table turned on them in the second period. After trading buckets over the first two-plus minutes of the second quarter, the Warriors went on a 13-3 run that cut the Celtics' lead to two points at the 5:41 mark. Monta Ellis, who scored a game-high 37 points and was nearly unstoppable all night long, scored eight of Golden State's points during that run.

This game looked like it was going to be a landslide in Boston's favor after the first 12 minutes, but the second quarter spurt gave the Warriors a bode of confidence that eventually sent them on to a huge victory in their home arena. They didn't take the lead until the third quarter, but without their second quarter run, tbe Celtics would most likely have been traveling to Phoenix with a 24th victory notched on their belts.

Key Box Score Line

Monta Ellis had the highest scoring night, but Rajon Rondo had the best all around game. He finished with a team-high 30 points, game-high 15 assists and had a double-double racked up by halftime. He did commit six turnovers, but still gave Boston his best statistical performance of the season to date.

Box Score Nuggets

• C.J. Watson grabbed seven steals off the bench for Golden State, six of which came in the first half.
• Boston scored 35 points in the first quarter but failed to score more than 23 in any other period.
• Kendrick Perkins had a game-high 14 rebounds.
• Boston committed 25 turnovers.
• Golden State's bench outscored Boston's by a count of 35-15.
• Both teams made 40 field goals.
• Rajon Rondo bounced back to make seven of his nine free throw attempts after his 0-for-2 trip at the end of Sunday night's loss to the Clippers.
• Boston won the rebounding, assist, block and 3-pointers made categories but still lost.
• Ray Allen scored 24 points while making only one 3-pointer.
• Golden State entered the game as the worst offensive rebounding team in the league but still managed to grab 14 offensive boards tonight.

Quote of the Night

Ray Allen on losing for the second consecutive night: "Obviously, last night was frustrating for us and to get in basically the same situation tonight is not good. We have to shore it up. It gets frustrating when you know that you do it to yourself."