The Warriors were without their two starting wings, Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes. They looked completely spent in the fourth quarter and were facing a Celtics team that matches up well with them. They failed to connect on two potential game-winning lobs and had to play two overtimes. And they still, somehow, won 124-119 to extend their winning streak to 24 games.
2015 NBA scores: Warriors keep finding ways to grind out wins
Despite being shorthanded and looking exhausted, the Warriors pulled off a double overtime win against the Celtics to remain undefeated.
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Stephen Curry led the way for Golden State with 38 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists in 47 minutes. Draymond Green, meanwhile, finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, five steals and five blocks, posting the first 5X5 game (five or more points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks) since Nicolas Batum recorded one in 2012. Performances like those should be shocking but nothing about the Warriors is surprising anymore.
Golden State is not just making history but is also incredibly entertaining in the process. The win Friday against Boston is the perfect example. The game was close in the first half, then they took control in the third quarter before allowing the Celtics back in it early in the fourth. They looked vulnerable at times and invincible at others before pulling off a workman-like win. The only predictable thing about their games is that they will probably win, no matter how things are looking at any point.
The Warriors will face the Bucks on Saturday on the second game of a back-to-back. They will have Thompson back but it's impossible to know how they will look after exerting so much effort on Friday. If the way things have gone for them so far this season has taught us anything, however, is that they will very likely find a way to pull off yet another hard-fought road victory in the end.
SB Nation presents: Stephen Curry is literally a video game
3 other things we learned
Charlotte is for real
The Hornets -- nee Bobcats -- have been a joke for a long time, so it's hard to take them seriously. Make no mistake, though: this iteration of the team is genuinely good. Charlotte is on a four-game winning streak after destroying the Grizzlies in Memphis thanks to a 33-point outing by Kemba Walker and trails only the Cavaliers in the East standings.
Batum continues to play well (20 points, four rebounds, two assists on Friday), and the Jeremy Lin-Jeremy Lamb duo has given the team some perimeter scoring that it lacked in the past. The big man rotation is suspect on paper but has performed well so far. There are a lot of improved teams out there but the Hornets legitimately look like a solid playoff team.
The Cavs are getting healthy
The Cavaliers sent a message with their 111-76 drubbing of the upstart Magic. They controlled the game from wire to wire with LeBron James scoring 25 points in 15 shots and Iman Shumpert logging 14 points and three rebounds on his season debut.
The Cavs are 15-7 for the season despite injuries to their two starting guards. Now Shumpert is back and Irving is practicing with the team. Cleveland will soon have everyone available for the first time this year and, going from the Magic game, is ready to finally create some separation at the top of the East standings.
Durant is still a killer
Oklahoma City beat Utah in the second game of a back-to-back and the first of a home-and-home series. The Thunder were cruising until the Jazz tied the game after trailing by 12 with a 6:33 to go in the fourth quarter. They would have lost if not for an inspired Kevin Durant, who came through with 11 straight points to close the game after scoring 10 up to that point.
The Thunder didn't shine in the victory but took down a tough team on the road to win their fourth straight and their eighth in the last 10. With the Warriors looking unbeatable and the Spurs piling up wins, everyone seems to have forgotten about the Thunder as a threat to come out of the West. As long as they have Durant, they have a shot.
Play of the night
Andre Drummond dunked over the entire city of Philadelphia.
You might want to put a body on the best offensive rebounder in the league, 76ers. Just a suggestion.
6 fun things
Final scores
Pacers 96, Heat 83 (Indy Cornrows recap | Hot Hot Hoops recap)
Cavaliers 111, Magic 76 (Fear the Sword recap | Orlando Pinstriped Post recap)
Pistons 107, 76ers 95 (Detroit Bad Boys recap | Liberty Ballers recap)
Warriors 124, Celtics 119 (2 OT) (Golden State of Mind recap | Celtics Blog recap)
Raptors 90, Bucks 83 (Raptors HQ recap | Brew Hoop recap)
Hornets 123, Grizzlies 99 (At the Hive recap | Grizzly Bear Blues recap)
Pelicans 107, Wizards 105 (The Bird Writes recap | Bullets Forever recap)
Nuggets 111, Timberwolves 108 (OT) (Denver Stiffs recap | Canis Hoopus recap)
Thunder 94, Jazz 90 (Welcome to Loud City recap | SLC Dunk recap)
Spurs 109, Lakers 87 (Pounding the Rock recap | Silver Screen and Roll recap)
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