On Sunday afternoon in Boston, the Golden State Warriors were aiming to finish their four-game road trip undefeated against the Boston Celtics. Rather, the rematch of the NBA Finals in 2022 ended up being one of the Warriors’ most crushing defeats ever. The Celtics pummelling the Dubs, falling short 140-88.

It seems unfair to concentrate on just one area of the Warriors’ performance in the defeat. No NBA club has ever lost by more than 50 points due to a single player or play. After a lengthy road trip, Golden State appeared fatigued, while Boston appeared to be still processing their defeat in the NBA Finals from a few years back.

Though Andrew Wiggins’ absence has been somewhat concealed by Moses Moody, the Warriors needed Wiggins’ length and quickness on defence when playing Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Rather, Tatum and Brown controlled the entire match. In less than 48 minutes of joint action, the two wings scored 56 points between them. Tatum was 4-for-5 from three, and they made 20 of their 32 field goals.

On the offensive end, the Celtics were unstoppable, while Golden State was terrible defensively. Throughout the game, Moses Moody was the only starter for the Warriors to make more than two field goals. Steph Curry was only 2-for-13 from the field and a rare 0-for-9 from three points.

The Celtics, who led by 44 points at halftime and 22 points at the end of the first quarter, unleashed a humiliating avalanche. The Warriors’ closest thing to a silver lining was that head coach Steve Kerr was able to rest most of his veterans for almost the whole second half because it was so clear early on in the game.

With a 32-28 record for the year, the Warriors are still in contention to go to the play-in round. They will, nevertheless, want to forget about Sunday’s defeat as quickly as possible. When they return home to host the Bucks on Wednesday, they will have their first opportunity.