The Boston Celtics defeated the Golden State Warriors, 121-118, in overtime at TD Garden on Thursday night.

The highly anticipated rematch of last summer's Finals predictably featured a hotly contested first half that concluded with the Warriors (22-23) holding a 55-54 lead at intermission courtesy of a Stephen Curry half-court-plus heave at the buzzer. Momentum seemed to be on Golden State's side throughout most of the second half as well, but the Celtics (34-12) ultimately erased a what as much as a nine-point deficit with a 20-11 run over the final 8:49 of regulation. In overtime, the defending champions quickly reduced an eight-point deficit to three with 30.1 seconds left before Boston hung on thanks to the use of a full final possession and a missed desperation three-point attempt from Jordan Poole as time expired.

Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 29 points, adding seven assists, four rebounds, four steals and two blocks. Poole and Klay Thompson each furnished 24 points, with Poole adding six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Andrew Wiggins registered 20 points, four rebounds, three assists, four blocks and one steal. Draymond Green produced an 11-point, 13-rebound double-double that included nine assists and one steal.

Jayson Tatum paced the Celtics with a 34-point, 19-rebound double-double that included six assists and three steals. Al Horford generated a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double that included three blocks. Marcus Smart supplied 18 points, five boards, four assists, three steals and one block. Jaylen Brown tallied 16 points, nine rebounds, three assists and one steal. Robert Williams and Malcolm Brogdon posted matching 14-point efforts while recording 11 and seven rebounds, respectively.

The Warriors remain on the road and next visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night, while the Celtics visit the Toronto Raptors on Saturday afternoon.