BOSTON — The Golden State Warriors will close out a five-game road trip this week against the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder, the NBA's three top teams through three weeks.
"We'll know if they're for real after that," a Celtics executive conceded before the first of those games.
Consider the first test passed. Behind Stephen Curry's excellence, a pair of Kevon Looney put-backs and a Buddy Hield dagger, the Warriors closed out a fourth quarter that featured four lead changes. The Warriors' 118-112 victory improved their record to 7-1, half a game better than the defending champions.