The Celtics showed no signs of slowing down after posting the third-largest margin of victory in franchise history, with a 140-88 blowout of the Golden State Warriors at TD Garden Sunday afternoon.
Jaylen Brown had a game-high 29 points on 11-of-19 from the field, including 5-of-10 from deep, while Jayson Tatum scored 27 points (9-of-13 shooting and 4-of-5 from 3-point range) and dished out five assists on his 26th birthday.
"It feels great, but, at the same time, it's always within humility," Brown said during his postgame comments. "We don't take the game for granted. We didn't come and mess around and that's just how we show our respect to the game; we handle business and take care of it. ... It's a lot of respect for the Golden State Warriors, but we feel like it's our time now."
Payton Pritchard netted 19 points off the bench along with six rebounds and six assists for the Celtics, who set a league record with their third 50 points or more wins this season and extended their and the NBA's longest winning streak this year to 11 games.
Boston, playing without Kristaps Porzingis (left quad), went 25-of-49 from behind the arc, while holding the Warriors to 7-of-41 from long distance.
Stephen Curry was 2-of-13 from the floor and 0-of-9 from 3 -- including back-to-back airballs in the first quarter -- to finish with four points, three assists, and a rebound. The All-Star was considered questionable coming into the matchup with a knee injury but played in the first half and did not return following intermission.
"The way that they've been playing, they seem very sure of themselves in their identity and who they are," Curry told reporters. "Give them credit. They came out and whooped us tonight from the jump, and it was one of those perfect storms of a rough [day] on our end and them taking it to us."
It was the fourth-worst loss in franchise history for the Warriors after winning 11 of their last 13 coming into Sunday. Lestor Quinones led the team with 17 off the bench and Moses Moody was the only starter to reach double-digit scoring with 11 points for Golden State -- that dropped to 32-28.
The game was tied at 21 with 6:05 left in the opening quarter before the Celtics used a 23-1 spurt to close out the first, sparked by three-straight made 3s by Brown -- who had 19 points in the period. The lead only grew for the home team by 35 late in the second.
By the break, Boston was shooting 60% from the floor and were 15-of-24 on 3-pointers with 20 assists and only one turnover, while ahead by 44 points (82-38) -- which was a franchise record after closing the first half on a 61-17 run.
C's coach Joe Mazzulla pulled his starters at the 7:33 mark in the third quarter after leading 99-48 that eventually turned into a 56-point whooping -- the largest margin of the game.
"Boston was amazing. We weren't beating them today," Golden State coach Steve Kerr said in his postgame presser. "This was not a day off for Steph, though he probably could have used one. He's played so well and for so long this year, hopefully the next few days he'll get it recharged."
The Celtics (48-12) head out on the road to Cleveland and face the Cavaliers (39-21) Tuesday night.
Game Notes:
Boston was 55.2% from the field, including 51% from 3, while the Warriors were held to 39.1% from the floor and 17.1% from long range. The Celtics handed out 35 assists (seven turnovers) on 53 baskets and Golden State had 24 dimes (17 turnovers) on 36 made shots.
Joel Pavón
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