Celtics Dominate Warriors Behind Jaylen Brown's 32 Points

Boston cruises to 120-99 win over Golden State without Steph Curry

Apr. 12, 2026 at 3:52pm

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An abstract, energetic painting featuring bold, neon-colored brushstrokes that capture the dynamic movements and scoring plays of basketball players on a court, conceptually representing the Celtics' dominant performance over the Warriors.Jaylen Brown's scoring explosion and Jayson Tatum's resilient return fuel the Celtics' dominant victory over the Warriors.Boston Today

The Boston Celtics cruised to a 120-99 victory over the Golden State Warriors on March 18, 2026, led by a dominant 32-point performance from Jaylen Brown. With Warriors star Stephen Curry sidelined due to a knee injury, the Celtics took advantage, also getting 24 points and 10 rebounds from Jayson Tatum in his sixth game back from Achilles surgery.

Why it matters

This game highlighted the Celtics' depth and talent, as they were able to win convincingly without relying solely on their stars. Meanwhile, the Warriors continued to struggle without Curry, underscoring their dependence on their superstar guard. The emotional return of former Celtics player Kristaps Porzingis to TD Garden also added an interesting subplot to the matchup.

The details

Jaylen Brown scored 23 of his 32 points in the first half to set the tone for the Celtics. Jayson Tatum added 24 points and 10 rebounds in his sixth game back from Achilles surgery. For the Warriors, Gary Payton II and Pat Spencer each scored 14 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Celtics' balanced attack. Kristaps Porzingis, a former Celtics champion, received a standing ovation from the Boston crowd in his return to TD Garden, where he had an early block on Tatum and hit a 3-pointer.

  • The game was played on March 18, 2026.
  • Jayson Tatum was in his sixth game back from Achilles tendon surgery.

The players

Jaylen Brown

A star player for the Boston Celtics who scored 32 points in the game, 23 of them in the first half.

Jayson Tatum

A key player for the Celtics who scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in his sixth game back from Achilles tendon surgery.

Stephen Curry

The star guard for the Golden State Warriors who missed the game due to a knee injury.

Gary Payton II

A Warriors player who scored 14 points in the losing effort.

Pat Spencer

A Warriors player who also scored 14 points in the game.

Kristaps Porzingis

A former Celtics champion who received a standing ovation from the Boston crowd in his return to TD Garden, where he had an early block on Tatum and hit a 3-pointer.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

This game showcased the Celtics' depth and talent, as they were able to dominate the Warriors without relying solely on their stars. The Warriors' struggles without Curry underscored their dependence on their superstar guard, while the emotional return of Kristaps Porzingis added an interesting subplot to the matchup.