(Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports)
Final: Celtics 140, Warriors 88 - Jaylen Brown kicks off complete domination of Golden State
BOSTON CELTICS vs. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
3:30 p.m., ABC
Line: Boston -8.5
INJURIES
Boston: Kristaps Porzingis (OUT, quad contusion), Neemias Queta (OUT, knee)
Golden State: Andrew Wiggins (OUT, personal reasons), Brandin Podziemski (OUT, knee)
LAST TIME
Jaylen Brown and Derrick White teamed up to help Boston put up a 40-point first quarter, though they gave up 30. Queta stepped up early in the second with some good minutes, but Golden State’s 15-2 run erased Boston’s lead. Boston answered with an 8-0 run of their own to retake a three-point halftime lead. The Celtics came out strong in the third, getting Steph Curry into foul trouble but the Warriors hung around with him on the bench. Boston built a 17-point lead but Curry returned and he, along with Klay Thompson, went off in the fourth to force overtime. The Celtics missed good looks throughout the fourth and OT, and once again fell to the Warriors.
NOTES
- This is Golden State’s third game in four nights
- The Warriors have won three in a row, eight straight on the road, and are 13-3 since consecutive losses to Sacramento and Los Angeles.
- The Celtics have won nine straight.
THINGS I’M LOOKING FOR
1. Tillman stepping up: Without Porzingis, the Celtics will need big bodies to step up. This could be a big Tillman game because he’s a big body who can also switch and stay in front of the more athletic Warriors.
2. Make Jonathan Kuminga a shooter: He’s shooting 30% from deep this season and he’s only made four 3-pointers since February 1. Like a lot of guys who are in that 30% range, Kuminga is capable of finding a rhythm for a couple of games, like a three-game 7-12 stretch he had in the middle of January. So the key is not to leave him wide open. The point is to show a little help to discourage his drives and stay home on his passing options so he’s the guy who ends up getting the shots.
3. Dictate the pace: The Celtics have to play this game at their speed, their pace. They can’t get caught up in the Warriors more frantic style of play.
“I think it's just a matter of just kind of playing what our game is,” Joe Mazzulla said before the game. “I think it's something that we've done pretty well. We've just played our game and then we've adapted based on how the game was going. So I think it's two teams that are willing to go outside the box, on either end of the floor, to generate advantages and I kind of expect that tonight.”
Follow along with my thoughts as the game goes on. They’ll show up below and in the comments section, so hop in and share your opinion as well.