Another strange, unpredictable night in Celticsville

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OAKLAND, Calif. -- In the third quarter, Marcus Morris raised up for a 3-pointer that swirled inside the rim and seemingly was on its way out, before it relented and dropped through the bottom of the net. 

Moments later, Golden State’s Alfonzo McKinnie had a wide open, uncontested 3-pointer that hit the side of the rim and ricocheted badly into the hands of a Celtics player. 

It was that kind of night for both teams, one in which the Celtics were more than happy to introduce the Golden State Warriors to the bizzaro world of Celticsville, where likely wins are replaced by woeful performances and predictable beatdowns become purposeful victories. 

The former was definitely in effect as Boston had little trouble in disposing of the Warriors 128-95.

Boston opened the game with an 11-0 run, only for the Warriors to respond with a 12-2 run of their own. 

Golden State would not get any closer in the first quarter, which ended with the Celtics leading 32-24.

The second quarter, usually the beginning of the demise for Boston, was anything but that on Tuesday. 

Boston began the quarter with a 13-3 run to lead 45-27 after a Jayson Tatum jumper. 

☘️ CELTICS 128, WARRIORS 95

The Celtics continued to control the game as they closed out the second quarter by scoring nine of the last 10 points to take a commanding 73-48 halftime lead. 

Even without Klay Thompson (right knee soreness), the Warriors are too good a team to not some inroads into Boston’s dominant showing. 

Golden State showed some life early in the third quarter, but a 3-pointer by Gordon Hayward pushed Boston’s lead to 89-70.

Hayward, who had six points or less in four of Boston’s previous five games, had seven in the first quarter and eclipsed the 20-point barrier in the third quarter. 

He would finish with 30 points for the game, becoming just the third Celtics players to tally 30 or more points off the bench in three or more games. He joins Kevin McHale (five games in 1983-1984 season and 1989-1990; and Ricky Davis with three games in the 2004-2005 season). 

Indeed, it was that kind of game for the Celtics who were able to match or surpass every surge by the Warriors. 

And it was the kind of performance that so many anticipated would be on display when these two met at Oracle Arena, a place where the Celtics have now managed to come away with a win three of the last four seasons. 

But this one was different. 

Boston came in having lost six of its last seven games, a team seemingly on the verge of collapsing before our very eyes. 

And so what do they do?

They deliver what was easily their best team performance of the season, showing the kind of connectivity at both ends of the floor that we have seen very little of this season; certainly not with any kind of consistency. 

It was a reminder of just how talented this team can be when they are committed to playing as one, evident by them closing out the third quarter with a 12-0 run to lead 105-76 with another quarter left to play. 

They have the talent to blow out any team, even the two-time defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors. 

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