Jeff Van Gundy's prediction: Warriors will lose to Celtics

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Reggie Miller thought the Pacers would beat the Warriors. He was wrong.

The Warriors led Indiana by 32, and staved off a furious comeback to win 131-123.

On Friday night in Boston, Golden State will look for its 28th straight regular season win.

According to ESPN broadcaster Jeff Van Gundy, the Warriors will not leave Boston 24-0.

"I think Boston will get 'em on Friday," Van Gundy told ESPN's Zach Lowe on "The Lowe Post" podcast. "I think Boston is such a great defensive team, with a great home court. But the truth be told, I thought Toronto would get them as well ... but the Warriors proved they could handle that too."

The Celtics are 13-9 and defeated the Bulls on Wednesday. Brad Stevens' squad has won four of its last five, with the lone loss being a 108-105 loss in San Antonio.

The Celtics' +5.4 differential is the best mark in the Eastern Conference.

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The Celtics are third in defensive rating (97.0), while the Warriors are fifth (98.2).

Golden State is first in assist percentage (67.9), while Boston is fourth (64.0).

Last year, the Warriors outlasted the Celtics at home 114-111 on Jan. 25.

On March 1 in Boston, the Warriors erased a 26-point deficit and stunned the Celtics, 106-101.

Although he thinks the Warriors will lose, Van Gundy offered significant praise to what Golden State has accomplished.

"What the Warriors are doing is more impressive, to me, than them winning the championship last year," he declared. "To be able to come off a championship and rip off 23 straight wins -- it boggles the mind."

[POOLE: No obvious threat left as Warriors near range of '71-'72 Lakers]

And if the Warriors surpass the Lakers' 33-game win streak in the 1971-72 season?

"Breaking the record absolutely dwarfs being able to win a championship," Van Gundy reiterated. "When you break a record that long standing, it's much more impressive. Somebody wins a championship every year. Nobody does what the Warriors are doing, or what the Lakers set."

Lowe closed the topic by saying, "I'm calling it now. They're gonna be undefeated on Christmas. They're not losing any of these games. They're gonna be undefeated on Christmas and I'm skipping dinner."

Van Gundy's response: "They're gonna lose to Boston. I'm telling you."

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