Celtics hand Warriors biggest home loss of Steve Kerr era in 40-point blowout

Monday’s Warriors-Celtics game was a clash of championship-winning franchises that were battling for the NBA title just three seasons ago.

On Monday, only one team remotely looked like a playoff team, let alone a title contender in 2025. In the marquee game of the NBA’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day slate, the Celtics beat the Warriors , 125-85 on Golden State’s field. .

The home loss was Golden State’s worst since Steve Kerr took over as head coach in 2014. In fact, it was Golden State’s most lopsided loss at home since a 149-104 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on January 15, 1985.

In 2022, the Warriors defeated the Celtics in the NBA Finals for the fourth championship of the Stephen Curry era. Since then, the Celtics have won a championship and become one of the dominant forces in the league. They have taken giant steps beyond the ancient dynastic warriors.

With Monday’s win, the Celtics improved to 30-13, good for second place in the East behind the Cleveland Cavaliers. The loss dropped the Warriors to 21-21 and 11th place in the West, where they would be on the sidelines watching the field of play if it were the end of the season.

The Warriors played without several injured rotation players, including Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski. But there was no indication that their presence on Monday would have made a difference in the outcome.

Boston opened a 29-18 lead in the first quarter, which it increased to 54-39 by halftime. An 11-0 run in the third quarter extended Boston’s advantage to 71-44 and ensured the blowout continued. A sequence during this race illustrates the unbalanced effort on both sides of the field.

Celtics guard Derrick White stripped the ball from Andrew Wiggins in transition and sent it to teammate Jrue Holiday. Holiday then threw a downzone pass that Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown had a chance to pick up an easy bucket for. Tatum got the ball and took it home to extend the run to 9-0.

There would be no Warriors rally.

The Celtics put together a complete offensive effort with six players scoring in double figures while shooting 41.7 percent (20 of 48) from 3-point range. On defense, they have stifled a struggling Warriors team that has now lost five of its last eight games and 18 of 27 since a 12-3 start.

Only two Warriors scored in double figures as Golden State shot 34.8% from the field and 26.4% (14 of 53) from 3-point range. Curry was the only starter to reach double figures with a team-high 18 points on a 6-of-16 shooting effort (4-of-12 from 3).

No other Warriors starter scored more than seven points. Moses Moody was Golden State’s other double-digit scorer with 13 points coming off the bench.

Boston responded with a game-high 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists from Tatum, who was one of four Celtics starters to reach double figures. Kristaps Porziņģis had 18 points, while Brown added 17.

The Celtics stay out West for three more games against the Clippers, Lakers and Mavericks before returning home to Boston. The Warriors will look to bounce back with an away game against the Kings on Wednesday as they attempt to stay afloat in the competitive Western Conference.