OAKLAND (California) • In a preview of the potential National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals, Stephen Curry scored a season-high 49 points and the reigning champions Golden State Warriors outlasted the Boston Celtics 109-105 on Saturday.

Such was the competitive nature of the showdown between the conference leaders at Oracle Arena that one could have mistaken it to be June, not January.

"It felt like a play-off game," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.

"High-level stuff, great defence and great teams playing incredibly hard and smart."

Should they meet again in the post-season, fans can expect a sequel to the duel between star guards Curry and Kyrie Irving.

Curry seized command in the second half and finished 16-of-24 from the floor, including eight-of-13 from three-point range.

Irving led Boston with 37 points on 13-of-18 shooting, making five of six three-pointers.

"We bring the best out of each other," Curry said of Irving. "He's an amazing type of player who can do some crazy things on the floor."

The Celtics, down 10 points in the fourth quarter, rallied to lead briefly before Curry took charge.

He sank a three-pointer to put Golden State ahead 98-95 and, after an Irving miss, sank a lay-up for a 100-95 Warriors' edge with 68 seconds remaining. Late free throws by Curry put the Warriors ahead 105-101, but Terry Rozier's three-pointer pulled Boston within a point with 7.7 seconds left, forcing Curry to sink four more free throws in the final seconds to seal the triumph.

"This prepares us for what it's going to be like in April, May and June," Curry said.

"I'd like to say we sent a message that we're still going to be in it, but we have got a lot of work to do."

Kevin Durant had 20 points and Draymond Green added 15 points and 11 rebounds for the hosts.

Jaylen Brown had 20 points and Al Horford contributed 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Celtics, as Golden State (40-10) avenged a 92-88 loss in Boston in November.

That prevented the Celtics from becoming the first team in the Kerr coaching era to sweep a season series against the Warriors.

Golden State are trying to reach the NBA Finals for the fourth consecutive season and capture their third crown in four tries.

The Cavaliers (28-19) were their opponents the last three times but, with Cleveland struggling, Boston (35-15) have proved they could be the Warriors' biggest threat.

"When I'm going out there, going against them, it's the same motivation. You want to beat them," former Cavalier Irving told ESPN.

"To be considered the best, you've gotta beat the best. And that's what we try to do."

The Celtics, who won on their last two trips to Oracle Arena, opened six-of-seven and 10-of-13 from the floor against the NBA's top defensive team, with Irving making his first seven field-goal attempts.

Boston, without key reserve Marcus Smart, did not trail until the second minute of the third quarter.

"This is a team we know we might possibly meet down the road," Warriors forward Green said.

"We understand that. This was a very, very fun game to play in."

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS