PREVIEW: The Boston Celtics host the Golden State Warriors at TD Garden on Wednesday night, with Boston sitting at 45-23 in second place in the Eastern Conference while Golden State stands at 33-35 in ninth place in the West. The Warriors snapped a five-game losing streak with a 125-117 victory over Washington on Monday, featuring a dominant 30-point performance from Kristaps Porzingis. The Celtics come off a 120-112 home win against Phoenix where Jaylen Brown poured in a game-high 41 points, though Boston sits 2-2 in their last four outings. Golden State ranks first in high-frequency three-point shooting at 50.5% of their attempts, but they also rank 25th in defending the three-ball, allowing high-quality looks from distance. Boston's defensive identity stands out sharply, ranking first in three-point defense by allowing low-quality looks while also ranking 30th in attacking the rim and forcing opponents into difficult offensive schemes. The Warriors arrive without Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Moses Moody, representing roughly 59 points per game removed from the rotation. The critical matchup features Jaylen Brown running 19 drives per game at a 54% conversion rate, a weapon that becomes even more dangerous against a Warriors perimeter defense now compromised by injuries. The Celtics control pace at 95.4 possessions per game, the slowest rate in the entire league, and rank second in offensive rating while maintaining the league's fifth-best defensive rating.