Celtics Rout Warriors in Curry's Absence

Boston cruises to 121-110 victory over short-handed Golden State

Feb. 20, 2026 at 10:34pm

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The Boston Celtics easily defeated the Golden State Warriors 121-110 on Thursday night in their first game back from the All-Star break. The Warriors were missing star player Stephen Curry, which contributed to the lopsided outcome.

Why it matters

The Celtics' dominant win over the Warriors, one of the NBA's top teams, demonstrates Boston's continued strength and competitiveness in the Eastern Conference. The absence of Curry, a perennial All-Star, was a significant factor in the Warriors' struggles.

The details

The Celtics led by as many as 20 points in the game and were in control throughout. Boston's balanced scoring attack was led by Jayson Tatum's 32 points, while the Warriors were unable to mount a serious challenge without Curry in the lineup.

  • The game took place on Thursday, February 20, 2026, following the NBA All-Star break.

The players

Steve Kerr

Head coach of the Golden State Warriors.

Jayson Tatum

Star player for the Boston Celtics who scored 32 points in the game.

Stephen Curry

All-Star player for the Golden State Warriors who missed the game due to injury.

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What they’re saying

“We knew it was going to be a tough game without Steph, but the Celtics played really well and deserved the win.”

— Steve Kerr, Head Coach, Golden State Warriors (wn.com)

The takeaway

The Celtics' dominant victory over the shorthanded Warriors demonstrates Boston's continued status as one of the NBA's elite teams, while also highlighting the importance of Stephen Curry to the Warriors' success.