{"numbering":"asc","slides":[{"index":1,"title":"Five keys to the Celtics shocking the Warriors","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2016/04/02/boston-celtics-isaiah-thomas-celebrate-warriors-40216.jpg","caption":"

There’s little doubt that the 109-106 victory at Golden State on Friday night was the most significant win for Brad Stevens as Celtics coach.

His team did more than just beat a really good team.

They did so on the road without their best two-way player (Jae Crowder), getting contributions from every player that entered the game donning a Celtics jersey.

But for a win of this magnitude, several factors conspired to deliver a victory that will not be forgotten anytime soon.

Here’s a look at five keys that allowed Stevens and his crew to knock off a Golden State team that is the reigning NBA champion and came in having won an NBA-record 54 straight games:

"},{"index":3,"title":"5. Warriors mentally fatigued","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2016/04/02/boston-celtics-golden-state-warriors-fatigued-steph-curry-40216.jpg","caption":"

The Warriors have put together an unreal amount of wins the past two seasons, the kind of run that features a few games that Golden State was able to escape with the victory despite not playing particularly well. In time, those kind of games take a toll on both the mind and the body which creates some lackluster performances that the Warriors have managed to have and still win...until now.

“We didn’t play the way we needed to play to win the game,” said Golden State’s Draymond Green. “It’s funny because there have been quite a few games like that this year and we still found a way. It finally caught up to us.”

"},{"index":5,"title":"4. Paint Wars","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2016/04/02/boston-celtics-golden-state-warriors-jared-sullinger-paint-40216.jpg","caption":"

The Warriors are a 3-point shooting team so you don’t expect them to do much damage inside the paint. But what has served Golden State well most of this season has been the ability to defend the paint well enough to where it doesn’t have a significant impact on the game. That was not the case on Friday as the Celtics dominated the lane with a decisive 48-30 advantage on points in the paint.

"},{"index":7,"title":"3. Transition Game","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2016/04/02/boston-celtics-isaiah-thomas-layup-warriors-40216.jpg","caption":"

The Celtics had a tricky line to walk in terms of being able to get out and attack in transition, but not to the point where it played into the hands of the Warriors, who are one of the league’s best at generating offense on the fly. But Boston was surprisingly solid in this area as they outscored the Warriors 16-11 in fast-break points.

"},{"index":9,"title":"2. Defense on Curry","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2016/04/02/boston-celtics-warriors-defense-on-steph-curry-40216.jpg","caption":"

Stephen Curry is the man that makes everything go for the Warriors. So, if you can limit him, it significantly increases your chances at success. And the Celtics did a masterful job of not allowing him to heat up other than the third quarter when he scored 22 of his game-high 29 points on 9-for-19 shooting, which included nine turnovers. Avery Bradley, Isaiah Thomas and Evan Turner all took turns trying to limit him on Frida

"},{"index":11,"title":"1. Confidence","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2016/04/02/boston-celtics-golden-state-warriors-confidence-40216.jpg","caption":"

Avery Bradley talked about how the Celtics thought they were going to win after Green hit a couple baskets in the first couple of minutes.

But the true sign of how confident Boston was in itself goes back to the fact that no team has played the Warriors tougher and closer than the Celtics in recent years.

In the past two seasons, the Warriors have beaten every team in the NBA by at least six points except for the Celtics.

And when the two met earlier this season, Golden State emerged with a double-overtime win only to play the following night at Milwaukee and lose.

The only thing left to do for the Celtics was to actually beat the Warriors, which they did on Friday night.

"}]}