Celtics Defeat Warriors in Curry's Absence

Jaylen Brown shines as Boston wins without Tatum

Feb. 26, 2026 at 11:47pm by Ben Kaplan

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The Boston Celtics defeated the Golden State Warriors 114-105 in a highly anticipated matchup, despite both teams missing key stars. Jaylen Brown led the way for the Celtics, scoring 30 points, while Pat Spencer stepped up for the Warriors with 19 points and 7 assists in Stephen Curry's absence.

Why it matters

This game was a rematch of the 2022 NBA Finals, showcasing two of the league's top teams. The Celtics proved they can win without Jayson Tatum, while the Warriors struggled to generate offense without their superstar Curry.

The details

Jaylen Brown dominated the game for the Celtics, making 10 of his 18 field goal attempts and getting to the free throw line 8 times. Pat Spencer had a strong performance for the Warriors, hitting 5 three-pointers and dishing out 7 assists to help keep the game close. However, the Celtics' defense was too much for the Warriors to overcome, as they held Golden State to just 105 points.

  • The game took place on Thursday, February 19, 2026.

The players

Jaylen Brown

A five-time NBA All-Star and the Celtics' leading scorer this season, averaging 29.3 points per game.

Pat Spencer

A third-year guard for the Warriors who has seen a significant increase in production with Stephen Curry out of the lineup.

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What they’re saying

“Jaylen really stepped up for us tonight. With Jayson out, we needed him to be aggressive and he delivered.”

— Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Head Coach

“We just couldn't get it going offensively without Steph. Pat did his best, but we needed more from the rest of the guys.”

— Steve Kerr, Warriors Head Coach

What’s next

The Celtics will look to build on this win as they continue their push for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. The Warriors will hope to get Curry back soon to bolster their offense and make a playoff push of their own.

The takeaway

This game showcased the Celtics' depth and ability to win without their star player, Jayson Tatum. Meanwhile, the Warriors struggled to generate offense without Stephen Curry, highlighting their reliance on their superstar guard.