Golden State stumbled in the fourth quarter and ultimately fell 99-86 to the visiting Celtics on Wednesday night. Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry scored 25 and 23 points, respectively, but Boston managed to run away with the game in the final frame. With the loss, the Warriors drop to 52-12 on the season.
GAME LEADERS
Boston was held scoreless for the first three minutes of the contest, while Klay Thompson scored the Warriors first seven points to help them build an early 10-2 advantage. That’s as large of a lead Golden State would hold for the entire night, as the Celtics soon found their footing behind the leadership of Isaiah Thomas. He led all scorers with 11 points in the first quarter, which came to a close with the Warriors holding a 28-25 lead. Stephen Curry paced the Dubs with 10.
Golden State opened the second quarter on a 4-0 burst, but the Celtics evened the score at 34-34 at the 8:51 mark following Al Horford’s three-point play. They’d take their first lead of the game less than two minutes later, which they’d hold until the Warriors closed the frame on a 6-0 run to take a 50-46 lead into halftime.
The Celtics scored the first five points of the second half to jump back in front, but a Zaza Pachulia dunk 90 seconds into the third quarter ignited a 6-0 Warriors’ run to rebuild a five-point cushion. The lead would grow as large as seven points on Curry’s two free throws at the 3:10 mark, but Boston responded with a 9-1 burst to take a 72-71 advantage with 18 seconds remaining in the quarter. Curry then provided Golden State’s highlight of the night, draining a three-pointer as the quarter clock expired, handing the Warriors a 74-72 lead heading into the fourth and final frame.
Unfortunately for Golden State, that’s as large of a lead as they’d hold for the duration of the game, as Boston opened the fourth quarter on a 4-0 run to retake a 76-74 advantage with 10:34 left to play. After Thompson split free throws, Draymond Green threw down a dunk to give the Warriors a momentary lead at 79-78 with 7:18 remaining, but Kelly Olynyk scored on the ensuing possession and the Celtics would go on to lead for the remainder of the contest. That Olynyk basket ignited a 14-0 Boston run that would ultimately put the game out of reach, as Golden State struggled to score in the final minutes. They’d close within nine points with less than three minutes to play, but the damage had been done as the Celtics eventually finished off their 99-86 victory.
With the defeat, the Warriors drop to 52-12 on the season. They now head out on a two-game road trip, beginning in Minnesota on Friday night.