In a rematch of the 2022 NBA Finals, two conference juggernauts faced off in a bitter battle to the end. The Warriors, who came in at 6-1, went to Boston for the first time this season for a game against their former Finals foes (the Celtics), and, just like in 2022, the results played out exactly how they hoped.
The game began with a strong start for the Celtics, who held the Warriors to 19 points for the 5-point lead. Things flipped in the second quarter, when the Celtics went cold (16 points) and led to an 11-point deficit going into halftime. The Celtics had one more run in them in the second half but heroics from Stephen Curry and great execution in the clutch sealed his win for the Warriors, 118-112.
Curry was the MVP of the night with 27 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds in 34:23 minutes (8-17 FG). He was +7 in the game, but Buddy Hield was a team-high +20 with 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist on 6-11 shooting off the bench. Andrew Wiggins also had 16 points with 2 rebounds on 6-14 shooting from the field.
Jayson Tatum led all scorers with 32 points and 4 rebounds 50% shooting but he was playing with a short-handed rotation tonight minus Kristaps Porzingis and Jaylen Brown. Fortunately, Derrick White was able to step up and provide some support with 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists (8-19 FG).
On social media, fans are slowly starting to recognize the Warriors as a major title threat this year. Tonight, even though the Celtics were missing some key players, Curry and his team showed a certain level of resolve that wasn’t there last year and it’s got people buzzing about another potential Warriors title run.
“Warriors won against Boston!!! There’s a chance we’re seeing that 5th Curry ring next October,” wrote an X user.
For the Warriors, it’s their fifth straight win recent after starting 2-1. They currently rank 2nd in the West and have the second-best point differential in the league so far at +17.3. The Warriors are absolutely rolling and this latest win may be the best evidence yet that this group is serious about making a run.
“Feels like a statement win for the Warriors,” posted a Bay Area Anchor. “Battled back from an early deficit, shot it well from three, and made Boston pay for mistakes. This team is fun.
In the wake of the victory, fans couldn’t help but compare this team to their situation last year. This would have been a game the Warriors lost before but they’ve come together to be stronger than ever in the 2024-25 campaign.
“Last season Klay would’ve probably been a** and cost us the game then pointed to his 4 fingers for no reason,” a fan wrote.
Of course, some are still holding out hope for the Celtics and it’s true that they are still sitting pretty good overall with the strength of the roster. Even after this loss, their status as the title favorites does not change.
“But let’s be real,” one fan wrote. “This Celtics team when healthy idk who can beat them.”
As the season plays out, we’ll get a better sense of which teams are the contenders or pretenders in the league but the Warriors and Celtics may be on a collision course right now that nobody can stop.
Tonight, the Warriors won the battle and made a statement that they’re ready to retake their place at the top of the West. Teams like the Thunder and Suns will have something to say about those ambitions but this is a team that has done it before with 4x champions Stephen Curry and Draymond Green leading the charge.
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