Boston stormed out to a 35-22 lead after the first quarter but the speedy and aggressive warriors stormed back, thanks to a deep bench and 25 Boston turnovers.
The fourth quarter heated up with a battle of two of the NBA's best guards: Rajon Rondo and Monta Ellis were engaged in a great battle but Ellis and the Warriors came out on top to down the Celtics for the sixth straight time at Oracle Arena.
Celtics 103, Warriors 99
Oracle Arena, Oakland, Cali.
Dec. 28, 2009
Headliner: Monta Ellis led all scorers with 35 points. The Warriors guard made 15 of a game-high 26 field goal attempts and also added four assists in the win. He played all 48 minutes, the seventh time this season in which he played the entire game.
Unsung Hero: Rajon Rondo paced the C's with a season-high 30 points to go with a game-high 15 assists while going 7-for-9 from the dreaded charity stripe. The C's young guard also had a double-double before the half.
Scrub: Boston's bench chipped in with just 15 points compared to the 35 Golden State got from its bench. The C's starting five also committed 21 turnovers.
Turning Point: The C's led by as much as 18 in the first half but the Warriors brought it to within 1 before heading into the locker room, draining 35 points in the second quarter to Boston's 23. Golden State kept the heat on as it outscored the C's 23-18 in the third frame to take the lead for good heading into the fourth, where they held off the Celtics' attack.
Up Next: The C's West Coast swing continues on Wednesday as they look for revenge against the Suns in Phoenix. It was the Suns who handed Boston its first loss of the season.
The Suns topped the Celtics back on Nov. 6 by a score of 110-103, thanks to big games by Jason Richardson (34 points, 10 rebounds) and Amare Stoudemire (22 points).
Kevin Garnett led five C's players in double figures with 26 points while Rajon Rondo dished out 11 helpers in the defeat.
