Boston Celtics (20-5) at Golden State Warriors (12-14) Game #26 12/19/23

For the primary time this season, the Boston Celtics have made their method to the West Coast. On Tuesday, they’ll tip off the primary of 4 video games in California after they pay a go to to the Golden State Warriors. It’ll mark the primary assembly between the 2 sides since January. That was a recreation that the Cs managed to seize in additional time, downing the Dubs 121-118.

Heading into their matchup with Boston, Golden State shall be seeking to inch nearer to .500 within the 2023-24 marketing campaign. They’ve received two straight video games, but sit at 12-14 on the season, which has them slotted at eleventh within the Western Convention.

The Warriors look virtually nothing just like the title groups of years previous with Stephen Curry serving because the lone exception. The all-time chief in made three-pointers is having himself fairly the season. Curry has averaged 28.0 factors, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per recreation whereas capturing 46.1% from the sphere and 41.1% from past the arc. Except for him, Golden State doesn’t have anybody else averaging 20 factors per recreation. Klay Thompson is the closest with a mean of 16.8 on inefficient 41.8/37.4 capturing splits. Regardless of his tough numbers for the 12 months as a complete, Thompson has turned it round in latest outings. In his final three appearances, he’s as much as 27.3 factors per recreation on 54/54.8 splits.

STARTERS

Jrue Vacation | Stephen Curry

Derrick White | Brandon Podziemski

Jaylen Brown | Klay Thompson

Jayson Tatum | Jonathan Kuminga

Kristaps Porzingis (?) | Kevon Looney

BENCH ROTATION

Al Horford | Chris Paul

Payton Pritchard | Andrew Wiggins

Sam Hauser | Dario Saric

Dalano Banton | Trayce Jackson-Davis

Golden State’s beginning lineup will look completely different than it did the final time these two groups squared off. They’ll be with out longtime ahead Draymond Inexperienced, who’s presently suspended indefinitely after leveling Phoenix Suns large man Jusuf Nurkic. Inexperienced reportedly has begun counseling after what NBA govt vp and head of basketball operations, Joe Dumars known as his “repeated historical past of unsportsmanlike conduct.”

Along with Inexperienced’s absence amongst the Dubs’ beginning 5, Wiggins was moved to the bench final week after struggling early this season. On Sunday, he surged for 25 factors as a reserve to assist the Warriors high the Portland Trail Blazers.

Luke Kornet stays out for the Celtics after suffering an adductor strain final week throughout Thursday’s pregame warmups. There’s additionally an opportunity that Boston shall be with out Porzingis. The large man has been listed as questionable on the Celtics’ harm report because the staff seems to be to handle his left calf harm. Although it’s by no means best to be and not using a star participant, the Warriors wouldn’t be the worst staff to sit down Porzingis towards.

With Inexperienced sidelined for the foreseeable future, the Dubs have been enjoying Looney as their solely conventional large man. Boston might afford to surrender a little bit of dimension in favor of granting Porzingis some further relaxation.

The Celtics will look to increase their win streak to 6 video games after they take the ground at Chase Heart. They’re coming off of an ideal five-game homestand after falling to the Indiana Pacers within the In-Season Match quarterfinals. Boston has performed a superb job in responding to what was a reasonably tough loss in Indiana.

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