The Celtics rallied Thursday to earn their 14th straight win by outlasting the Warriors 92-88 in Boston.
Jaylen Brown helped the Celtics complete their second-half rally by pouring in 22 points with seven rebounds. Boston finished the third quarter on a 19-2 run.
While it wasn't the prettiest game to watch (both teams shot under 41 percent from the field), it provided insight into the Celtics' upside this season. Kyrie Irving scored most of his 16 points off free throws, but once again, Boston's balanced scoring and suffocating defense got the job done.
Warriors star Stephen Curry scored just nine points, making 3 of 14 shot attempts, as Golden State had just three players reach double-figures scoring. Kevin Durant led the team with 24 points.
For most of the game, the Celtics failed to pass the eye test. However, they did enough late to upset the defending NBA champions.
Stud of the Night
Rockets guard James Harden scored 48 points on 12-of-22 shooting, while hitting all 18 of his free-throw attempts in a 142-116 win over the Suns. He also dished out seven assists and looked comfortable as Chris Paul returned to the lineup.
Dud of the Night
Suns defense: Phoenix allowed the Rockets to score 90 points in the first half — 45 points in each of the first two quarters. The Warriors scored 88 points period Thursday. The Suns may not be playoff contenders, but their level of ineptitude on defense was palpable.
Highlight
Brown with the one-handed slam:
What's Next
Thunder (7-7) at Spurs (9-6) 8:00 p.m. ET — The three-headed attack of Carmelo Anthony, Russell Westbrook and Paul George has yet to fully click offensively, but Oklahoma City has won its last three games. Better defense has helped the Thunder turn a corner, while the Spurs have lost two of their last four games.
