Final: Celtics 128, Warriors 95 - C's beat down the defending champs

OAKLAND -- In the face of a horrific 1-5 start after the All-Star Break, the Celtics played their best game of the season against the defending champions on Tuesday night, dominating the Warriors for 48 minutes on their way to a 128-95 victory. Gordon Hayward came off the bench to score a game-high 30 points on 12-of-16 FG, leading a well balanced C's scoring attack that featured five different players scoring in double figures. Boston tied their season-high in assists with 36 and led by double digits from the second quarter on, taking advantage of a shorthanded Warriors lineup that was missing Klay Thompson and Shaun Livingston. Kyrie Irving added a double-double with 19 points and 11 assists while Steph Curry led the hosts with 23 points.

The win give the Celtics their third win at Oracle Arena in the last four years and improves their road record on the year against over .500 teams to 3-10. They won't have to wait long for their next test as a rested Kings squad awaits on Wednesday night in Sacramento in the second leg for a four-game trip.

First Half Notes

• Celtics target Cousins immediately in a couple of switches to get easy buckets


• Warriors missing open looks and turning the ball over multiple times in opening few minutes.


• Offense is flowing very well early on, with everyone looking to make the extra pass and not force shots that aren’t there.


• Warriors respond to 11-0 hole with 12-2 run of their own, but C’s answered that quickly to go up by eight thanks to establish some reliable efficient offense.


• C’s wisely are helping off of Warriors non-shooters with success early on, getting in the air space of Curry and Durant a lot early, a big boost with Thompson out.


• Hayward with his best quarter since the All-Star break, attacking the basket very well with seven points in just six minutes, authoritative moves to the rim and a 3.


• Brown showing good awareness on his shoot/drive choices, not putting himself in bad spots.


• 12 assists on 14 made baskets for the C’s in the first quarter


• Durant opens shooting just 1-of-5 from the field.


• Second quarter Celtics open things up with an 8-0 lead to push the lead into double digits


• Easily the best bench stint from the regulars on the road against a tough opponent this year. Warriors were shorthanded without Livingston and Thompson and C’s took it right to them in the paint without two of their top defensive players


• Brown has been a problem in the lane all night and Hayward continues to add.


• Curry (16 points) is the only Warriors that has it going early on.


• C’s already have four players with nine or more points midway through the second quarter. Seven players shooting 50 percent or better.


• C’s close out half on a 10-1 run to push the lead to 25. Finish with season-high 23 assists in the first half.

• The Celtics will be starting a four-game road trip on Tuesday night in Oakland with three of their four opponents coming against teams above .500. The Celtics are just 2-10 this season on the road against above .500 teams.


• Boston is expected to be at full strength for this one after Aron Baynes made it through his return from a sore foot with no issues. The Warriors will be without backup center Kevon Looney and  Klay Thompson whike Andre Iguodala is questionable for the matchup.


• Kevin Durant is among the players who thinks the Celtics will be fine once the postseason rolls around. "They're right up there at the top," Durant said on Monday when asked about the Celtics. "They've been losing a couple games, but they've got the top talent, some of the top talent on that team, so they'll be fine once the playoffs start."


• Seven of the last nine matchups between the Celtics and Warriors have been decided by five points or fewer dating back to the 2014-15 season.