Celtics-Warriors: A Post-All-Star Clash Featuring Moses Moody
The Boston Celtics are embarking on a challenging West Coast road trip, beginning with a Thursday night matchup against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco. This game marks the unofficial start to the second half of the season for both teams, with subsequent stops in Phoenix and Denver on the Celtics’ schedule. Coming off an eight-day break for the All-Star festivities, Boston looks to continue their strong form, having won 11 of their last 15 games before the pause.
Reunited and It Feels So Good (and Potentially Painful)
Thursday’s game will be a reunion of sorts, as Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis, former Celtics teammates, now find themselves donning Warriors jerseys. While Horford’s transition has been seamless, all eyes are on Porzingis, who is listed as questionable as he continues to recover from Achilles tendinitis. He’s expressed hope of making his Warriors debut in this very game, stating he’s aiming for a “surprisingly good post All-Star break.” However, the Warriors will be without Stephen Curry, still sidelined with a knee injury since January 30th. Coach Steve Kerr indicated Curry wasn’t ready to return, with an update expected after further evaluation.
Injury Reports and Team Form
The Celtics are relatively healthy heading into the game, with Jayson Tatum continuing his rehabilitation from an Achilles injury sustained last May. The Warriors, meanwhile, struggled leading up to the All-Star break, posting a 4-7 record in their last 11 games and currently holding the eighth spot in the Western Conference standings. Boston enters as the No. 2 team in the Eastern Conference, trailing the Milwaukee Bucks by 5.5 games.
Game Details & Betting Odds
- When: Thursday, 10 p.m. EST
- Where: Chase Center, San Francisco
- TV & Radio: Amazon Prime, NBC Sports Boston, WBZ-FM 98.5
- Spread: Boston -5.5
- Over/Under: 211.5
Team Statistics
| Boston Celtics | Golden State Warriors | |
|---|---|---|
| Season Record | 35-19 | 29-26 |
| vs. Spread | 30-24 | 25-30 |
| Over/Under | 20-34 | 32-23 |
| Last 10 Games | 7-3 | 4-6 |
| Points Per Game | 115.3 | 115.5 |
| Points Allowed Per Game | 108.4 | 113.7 |
| Field Goal Percentage | .467 | .461 |
| Opponent Field Goal Percentage | .444 | .472 |
| 3-Point Percentage | .363 | .362 |
| Opponent 3-Point Percentage | .360 | .352 |
Key Stat
The Warriors currently lead the NBA in made three-pointers with 897, while the Celtics are close behind in third place with 831. Expect a barrage of long-range attempts from both sides.
Looking Ahead
This game promises to be an exciting contest, with intriguing storylines surrounding Porzingis’ potential debut and the Celtics’ quest to maintain their momentum. Keep an eye on Moses Moody, who will be looking to make an impact for the Warriors against his former Eastern Conference rivals.
Source: Boston.com
