Celtics 121-110 Warriors: Jaylen Brown’s Triple-Double Powers Boston as Porziņģis Debuts in Golden State

The Celtics beat the Golden State Warriors 121-110 on Feb. 19, 2026, in San Francisco, paced by Jaylen Brown’s 23 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists. The win matters for Boston’s momentum as it arrives ahead of a matchup in Los Angeles this weekend.

What happened and what’s new for the Celtics

On Thursday night in San Francisco the Celtics rolled to a 121-110 victory, with Jaylen Brown recording his third triple-double of the season and the fifth of his career. Payton Pritchard scored 26 points and Sam Hauser added 16 as Boston claimed its seventh win in eight games.

Boston built a commanding lead early, opening the second quarter with a 17-2 run and taking a 74-51 advantage into halftime. The Celtics led by as many as 30 points before Golden State mounted a late fourth-quarter rally. A dunk by Gary Payton II narrowed the gap to 111-99 with six minutes remaining, but back-to-back 3-pointers from Pritchard helped Boston hold on.

Golden State was without two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry, who is sidelined with a knee injury; the Warriors are 6-11 this season when Curry does not play. The game also marked the Golden State debut of Kristaps Porziņģis, who scored 12 points in his first appearance for his new team after joining at the trade deadline.

Additional details from the contest: Brown had eight points in the first quarter and was one of eight Celtics to score in that period. Porziņģis had previously played 99 games over two seasons in Boston and won a championship there before being traded to Atlanta over the summer and subsequently acquired by Golden State from Atlanta at the trade deadline. He had been managing a left Achilles injury prior to this outing.

Behind the headline

The immediate context is a Celtics squad riding strong form: seven wins in eight games suggests sustained offensive balance on the night, with high-usage scoring from Brown and Pritchard and contributions from role players like Hauser. Brown’s triple-double underscores his all-around influence on both ends; the rebound total was heavily weighted to the defensive boards.

For Golden State, the absence of Curry shaped both the scoreboard and the narrative. Without their primary playmaker and scorer, the Warriors struggled to generate consistent offense. Porziņģis’ debut is notable for what it might mean long term—he entered the game having recently recovered enough to play after an Achilles issue—but his presence did not prevent the early Boston surge.

Stakeholders: the Celtics gain momentum and depth validation from multiple contributors; Brown enhances his individual profile with a high-impact performance; the Warriors face short-term lineup and scoring questions when Curry is out but now have a freshly added big man to integrate; Porziņģis carries the dual role of newcomer and player with recent injury history.

What we still don’t know

• Exact timeline for Stephen Curry’s return from the knee injury.
• How Porziņģis’ role will evolve for Golden State now that he has debuted.
• Whether the Celtics can sustain the same level of production in their upcoming game in Los Angeles.
• Any long-term adjustments the Warriors will make to compensate for Curry’s absence.

What happens next

• Celtics carry momentum into their next scheduled game in Los Angeles; a strong showing would extend the current winning stretch (trigger: performance in the upcoming matchup).
• Warriors prioritize integrating Porziņģis into the rotation while adjusting play-calling without Curry (trigger: subsequent games and lineup minutes for Porziņģis).
• If Curry’s knee requires additional recovery time, the Warriors could seek short-term internal or tactical changes to cover scoring and playmaking (trigger: length of absence).
• Boston could reinforce its bench usage and rotation patterns if multiple role players continue to contribute at the current level (trigger: recurring multi-player scoring outputs in upcoming games).

Why it matters

Near-term, the victory reinforces the Celtics’ current run of form and offers them a favorable posture heading into their next game. Jaylen Brown’s triple-double highlights a versatile offensive and defensive impact that can influence matchups and rotation planning. For the Warriors, the contest underscores the challenge of sustaining consistent offense without their star and the immediate task of integrating a new frontcourt piece with recent injury history. The balance of momentum, health and roster changes will shape both teams’ short-term trajectories.