National Basketball Association

Celtics-Warriors Preview

Published Jan. 25, 2015 1:02 a.m. ET

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Klay Thompson has gotten used to playing in Stephen Curry's shadow, though he may have a hard time staying out of the spotlight now.

Thompson looks to build on a once-in-a-lifetime performance as the Golden State Warriors try to extend their franchise-record 18-game home winning streak Sunday night against the Boston Celtics.

Thompson dominated the headlines after putting together the highest-scoring quarter in NBA history, scoring 37 points in the third in Friday's 126-101 win over Sacramento. The fourth-year guard made all 13 shots - including nine from 3-point range - and both free throws during those 12 minutes, surpassing the 33-point mark set by George Gervin in 1978 and matched by Carmelo Anthony in 2008.

"I was one of the luckiest NBA players ever to play with Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, David Robinson and some of the greatest players ever," coach Steve Kerr said. "As many spectacular things as Michael did, which he did nightly, I never saw him do that.

"It was reminiscent of Michael, because it was sort of otherworldly."

Thompson, who also set the league record for most 3s in a quarter, finished with a career-high 52 points while shooting 16 of 25. He's averaging 22.6 points, just behind Curry's team-leading 22.8.

"It was kind of a blur. I wish I could go back and enjoy it some more, but moments like that go by really fast," said Thompson, who's scored 32.0 points per game over the last five. "You always dream about it, being a big-time scorer and a big-time player. It's crazy it's reality."

NBA-leading Golden State (35-6) is just the 10th team to win at least 35 games by the midway point. It's compiled a 20-1 home record after winning 18 in a row there by an average of 18.9 points.

The Warriors lead the league with 111.1 points per game and 114.8 at home. They are 13-0 against Eastern Conference foes.

That doesn't bode well for the Celtics (15-26), who are seeking a season best-tying third consecutive victory. Boston had dropped 24 consecutive road games against the West before squeaking by Portland 90-89 on Thursday and Denver 100-99 on Friday.

"It's great from a progress standpoint," coach Brad Stevens said. "Hopefully you can build off this. ... They're both close games, they're one-point games. They both came down to the last shot. As history suggests, this is a difficult game to get on the second of a back-to-back."

Avery Bradley scored eight of his 18 points over the final 3:29 against the Nuggets while Brandon Bass finished with 17. Bradley has scored at least 17 in six of the last seven road games.

Kelly Olynyk was sent back home to have his badly sprained right ankle examined, leaving the Celtics without their third leading scorer at 11.1 points per game. Boston will also be without rookie Marcus Smart due to a death in his family.

Golden State took both matchups against the Celtics last season. Curry made a tiebreaking jumper with 4 seconds left in a 99-97 home victory Jan. 10, and the Warriors easily won 108-88 in Boston on March 5.

The Celtics have dropped 14 of their last 18 visits to the Bay Area.

Curry is averaging 15.0 points in eight career games in the series, his lowest mark against any team. Thompson is averaging 15.8 on 38.3 percent shooting in the last four meetings.