NBA: Warriors slay Celtics, end five-game losing streak to Boston

BOSTON -- After they pulled out a dramatic, last-second win at Indiana on Tuesday night (Wednesday, PHL time), the Golden State Warriors could have been excused for being a bit flat Wednesday night (Thursday, PHL time).

 

Forget it.

 

Putting on a clinic against a weak opponent, the Warriors never trailed, and they capped a 4-2 road trip with a clinic-like 108-88 blowout of the Boston Celtics.
 

Thanks to multiple dunks, #Warriors out-scored Boston 25-11 on fastbreak points tonight: http://t.co/Q4QrGt23IW pic.twitter.com/T0TdSTMX3A

— Golden St. Warriors (@warriors) March 6, 2014

Golden State forward David Lee scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, guard Klay Thompson also had 18 points, and guard Stephen Curry added 14 points. The Warriors, who led by as many as 31 points, removed their starters before the end of the third quarter. Guard Jordan Crawford, a former Celtic making his return, came off the bench to score 15 points.

 

Golden State (38-24) took a 12-2 lead and never looked back. The Celtics (20-41) lost for the sixth time in their past seven games.

 

The win ended Golden State's five-game Boston losing streak and gave the Warriors their first season series win over the Celtics since 2006-07. It also raised the Warriors' season road record to 20-14, including 14-4 in the past 18 games away from home.

 

By the end of the third quarter, bored Celtics fans were chanting for former fan favorite Brian Scalabrine, now an assistant coach with the Warriors. The crowd was also chanting for a guy shown on the big screen who looked like the late Tupac Shakur.

 

Rookie forward Kelly Olynyk, returning from a two-game absence caused by a toe injury, came off the bench to lead the Celtics with 19 points. Five Celtics reached double figures, with guard Rajon Rondo chipping in 14 points, seven assists and five rebounds.

 

The Warriors shot just 3-of-14 from 3-point range in the first half. However, they led by 21 because they forced 12 turnovers, had eight steals, blocked six shots, had 19 assists on 27 baskets and turned the ball over just twice before the break. - Reuters