Photo Credit: Getty Images
Stephen Curry (36) outdueled Olympic team-mate Jayson Tatum (26) in a battling Golden State Warriors win over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday as the Oklahoma City Thunder's unbeaten start to the season ended against Denver.
The Warriors improved to 7-1 after a thrilling 118-112 victory over the NBA champions on the road at the TD Garden. The heavyweight clash had been billed as a chance for Tatum to make a point after being benched for multiple games by Golden State's Team USA coach Steve Kerr during August's gold medal-winning Paris Olympics campaign.
But while Tatum impressed after coming alive in the second half to finish with a 32-point haul, it was Curry and the Warriors who came away with a battling victory at the TD Garden. "Like we always say 'Have each other's backs' - and guys are stepping up and committing to it," said Curry, who had 27 points and nine assists with seven rebounds and four steals. "We're capable of beating anybody. It's hard. You've got to embrace the challenge.
But this is a different year and we're trying to take baby steps and develop an identity," added Curry, who moved up to 30th on the NBA's all-time scorers list, leapfrogging Charles Barkley (23,757 points). Curry was given offensive support from Andrew Wiggins who scored 16 points, while Buddy Hield added 16 from the bench, along with Kyle Anderson (11 points) and Jonathan Kuminga (10). "We're very deep and you don't know whose night it's going to be. I love the vibe that we have but it's only eight games - a long way to go," Curry told ESPN.
Tatum meanwhile scored 24 points in the second half to help Boston turn a 14-point third quarter deficit into a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter.
