The Warriors are the worst team in the NBA and they looked like it at the TD Garden on Thursday night. Boston’s five top players combined for 97 points, dispatching an overmatched Golden State squad in the double-digit victory. Gordon Hayward continued his strong stretch of play with a game-high 25 points and 8 rebounds while Jayson Tatum returned from a three-game absence and played on a minutes limit. The limited court time did not keep him from putting up some impressive numbers in his return as Tatum posted 20 points and 6 rebounds in his 24 minutes, including a pair of impressive dunks in the half court. There clearly wasn’t much rust there and that should be beneficial with a showdown looming against the Sixers at the Garden on Saturday night.
PG: Kemba Walker
SG: Jayson Tatum
SF: Gordon Hayward
PF: Jaylen Brown
C: Daniel Theis
- Jayson Tatum will be back in the lineup for the first time in the week after he was cleared for action in his recovery from a strained groin. “Jayson went through some 3-on-3 before shootaround, did shootaround, feels good. He’ll play tonight but will be on a minutes restriction,” Brad Stevens said. Javonte Green was also cleared to play after missing Tuesday's game in Miami
- Enes Kanter remains out with a bruised hip and was seen working out with a noticeable limp at shootaround. Based on how slowly he's moving around I'd expect him to be out for another few days at least, which would be costly since the Sixers come to town on Saturday night with Joel Embiid.
- All-Star reserves will be announced before the game with Tatum and Jaylen Brown in the running for potential births in the East: "Whoever makes it s going to be happy obviously, we’re both deserving," Tatum said. "If you don’t make it, you know you’ve got to be happy for the other person, because they deserve to make it."
- The Celtics will hold a tribute to Kobe Bryant before the game to remember the Laker legend who passed away tragically earlier this week.