Three Boston Celtics starters scored at least 20 points a piece on Friday night, and the visitors outscored the Golden State Warriors 13-3 over the final 2:37 to extend their winning streak to 10 games with a 105-100 win at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California.
The best team in the NBA got behind early though as Golden State (2-11) was looking to break a five game losing streak. The Warriors had a 15 point lead several times in the first quarter and led by nine after the opening 12 minutes. Boston (10-1) was down 11 in the second but finally took their first lead 50-47 when Kemba Walker was fouled on a three-pointer and hit all three foul shots with 2:32 left to go before the break. The Celtics led 52-51 at the half.
Boston took their biggest lead of seven in the third quarter and still led by five headed to the fourth. Both teams would swap small leads as the final quarter progressed. A Walker runner through the lane made it 92-88 Celtics with 4:20 to go. But a Eric Paschall three point play, a Ky Bowman putback layup, two free throws from Drayman Green, and a layup by Willie Cauley-Stein made it a 9-0 run for the Warriors to take a 97-92 lead with 2:37 remaining. Walker hit a three-pointer to end the Golden State run, and Daniel Theis hit one of two from the line to cut it to 97-96. Off a jump ball win by Boston, Theis got it to Jayson Tatum for a breakaway dunk to put the Celtics back into the lead. Tatum nailed a pullup jumper on the next possession and then Walker made a fadeaway jumper to put it away with 19 seconds left.
Tatum led the way with 24 points, eight rebounds, and three steals for Boston. Jaylen Brown had 22 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Walker finished with 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Marcus Smart also added 15 points on all three-point shots (5-9), also adding three rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Alec Burks had 20 points to lead Golden State, while Paschall added 16 points and eight rebounds. The Celtics second game of the five game West Coast trip is a stop in Sacramento to battle the Kings on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
