If there can be such a thing as a statement game in mid-November, the Warriors delivered one Friday night in Boston.
Blowing the game open with a 31-9 third quarter, the Warriors won their sixth consecutive game, dispatching the Celtics 104-88 before a dejected sellout crowd at TD Garden.
Klay Thompson (28) and Kevin Durant (23) combined to score 51 points as the Warriors posted their first double-digit win over the Celtics since 2013-14.
With Stephen Curry tossing in 16 points, Draymond Green adding 11 and center Zaza Pachulia grabbing a season-best 12 rebounds in 21 minutes, the Warriors (10-2) were in control through the second half, leading by as much as 30.
It was the 150th win for Warriors coach Steve Kerr, making him the fastest ever to reach that level. The Warriors are 150-26 since Kerr took over in 2014-15.
Sports
The statement made with this game? The Warriors finally have created clear separation from the Celtics – who were their toughest opponent last season – while also avenging a loss to Boston last April that snapped at 54 the Warriors win streak at Oracle Arena.
STANDOUT PERFORMER
On a night when nearly everybody got involved, Durant and Thompson did most of the heavy lifting.
Durant’s line: 23 points (10-of-13 shooting, 1-of-2 from beyond the arc, 2-of-4 from the line), 10 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and a blocked shot. He played 33 minutes and finished plus-32 for the game.
Thompson’s line: 28 (12-of-21, 3-of-6, 1-of-1), five rebounds and three assists. He played 31 minutes and was plus-28.
TURNING POINT
With a 55-48 lead at the half, the Warriors opened the second half with a 24-3 run to go up 79-51 with 5:39 remaining in the third quarter. So flummoxed by the run were the Celtics, they called two timeouts in a 38-second span.
The Warriors held the Celtics to 11.8-percent shooting (2-of-17) in the quarter, while forcing five turnovers.
INJURY UPDATE
Warriors: C Damian Jones (R pectoral surgery recovery) was listed as out. C Anderson Varejao was a healthy inactive.
Celtics: C Al Horford (concussion protocol) was listed as doubtful and declared out prior to tipoff. F Jae Crowder (L ankle sprain) was listed as out.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Warriors left Boston immediately after the game for Milwaukee, where they will face the Bucks on Saturday night.
