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The Celtics have reached the ultimate recreation of their 4 recreation street journey as they go to the Oklahoma City Thunder. That is the second and last recreation between these two groups this season. The Celtics beat the Thunder 111-105 within the first recreation in Boston on November 20. These groups break up the sequence 1-1 final season with every group successful on the street. The Celtics have received their final 4 video games in Oklahoma Metropolis.
The Celtics are 4th within the East. They’ve received their final 3 video games and are 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 20-16 on the street and 14-12 towards Western Convention opponents. The Celtics are tied with 3nd place Philadelphia (however.003 behind) and half a recreation behind 2nd place Milwaukee. They’re 3.5 video games behind 1st place Miami. They’re 2 video games forward of fifth place Chicago, 2.5 video games forward of sixth place Cleveland and 4 video games forward of seventh place Toronto.
The Thunder are 14th within the West and are 1-9 of their final 10 video games. They’ve misplaced their final 9 video games and are 9-26 at house. They 6-20 towards Jap Convention groups. They’re 4.5 video games behind thirteenth place Sacramento and three video games forward of fifteenth place Houston. Within the Tankathon for the very best lottery odds, OKC is 4th, 1.5 video games behind third place Detroit, 2.5 video games behind 2nd place Orlando, and three video games behind 1st place Houston. They’re 3.5 video games forward of fifth place Indiana.
That is the second of again to again video games for each groups and each groups needed to journey after their recreation the night time earlier than with the Nuggets having the longer journey. The Celtics performed at Denver on Sunday, whereas the Thunder performed in Orlando. The Celtics are 7-5 on the second night time of again to again video games and they’re 4-2 when each video games are on the street. The Celtics have 2 extra again to again units left after this one. The Thunder are 2-10 on the second night time of again to again video games. That is their first street/street set.
That is the ultimate recreation of a 4 recreation street journey for the Celtics. They’re 3-0 to this point on the journey. They are going to head house after this recreation for video games towards Utah and Minnesota. They are going to have a recreation at Toronto earlier than a 3 recreation house stand towards Miami, Indiana and Washington. They are going to then finish the season with a 3 recreation street journey by means of Chicago, Milwaukee and at last Memphis.
Oklahoma Metropolis simply completed a 3 recreation street journey with the sport on Sunday in Orlando. They had been 0-3 on the journey. That is the primary of two straight house video games for the Thunder with Orlando coming in on Tuesday. They are going to then end the season with a 6 recreation street journey that can take them by means of a mixture of Jap and Western groups together with Denver, Portland, Atlanta, Detroit, Phoenix, and Portland for a second time.
Aaron Nesmith stays questionable for this recreation with the ankle harm. He has missed the final 7 video games and is listed as a recreation time choice for this recreation. Marcus Sensible is a late scratch for this recreation with a sinus drawback that flared up throughout Sunday’s recreation in Denver. Rob Williams can be listed as out with proper patella tendinopathy. I think about that each are being held out as a precaution on the again to again. I’m guessing that Derrick White and Grant Williams will begin of their place, however given Payton Pritchard’s current play, he could very effectively get the beginning on the level as a substitute of White.
The Thunder have 7 gamers out and one other questionable. Luguentz Dort (shoulder), Josh Giddey (hip), Ty Jerome (groin), Mike Muscala (ankle), Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (foot), Derrick Favors (again) and Kenrich Williams (knee) are all listed as out. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is questionable with an ankle harm. He missed the Thunder’s recreation in Orlando on Sunday and is a recreation time choice for this recreation. If he’s unable to play, Tre Mann will seemingly get the beginning as soon as once more.
Possible Celtics Starters
PG: Derrick White
SG: Jaylen Brown
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Grant Williams
C: Al Horford
Celtics Reserves
Payton Pritchard
Daniel Theis
Luke Kornet
Sam Hauser
Malik Fitts
Nick Stauskas
Accidents
Aaron Nesmith (ankle) questionable
Marcus Sensible (sinus) out
Robert Williams (knee) out
Two-Manner Gamers
Brodric Thomas
Matt Ryan
Head Coach
Ime Udoka
Possible Thunder Starters
PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SG: Aaron Wiggins
SF: Aleksej Pokusevski
PF: Darius Bazley
C: Olivier Sarr
Thunder Reserves
Derrick Favors
Vit Krejci
Theo Maledon
Tre Mann
Isaiah Roby
Accidents
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (ankle) questionable
Luguentz Dort (shoulder) out
Derrick Favors (again) out
Josh Giddey (hip) out
Ty Jerome (groin) out
Mike Muscala (ankle) out
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (foot) out
Kenrich Williams (knee) out
Two-Manner Gamers
Olivier Sarr
Lindy Waters III
Head Coach
Mark Daigneault
Key Matchups
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Derrick White
Picture by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Photographs
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Picture by Zach Beeker/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
Derrick White vs Shai Gilgeous- Alexander
Gilgeous-Alexander is main the Thunder with 24.4 factors, 5.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per recreation. He’s capturing 45.1% from the sector and 29.0% from past the arc. He’s very gifted and the Celtics want to concentrate to him on protection. He’s the one considered one of 2 energetic Thunder gamers averaging double figures and so slowing him down will go a great distance towards getting a win on this recreation. With Marcus Sensible out, I’m guessing that Derrick White will get the beginning. If Gilgeous-Alexander is out, Tre Mann will seemingly get his second straight begin.
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Picture by Ethan Mito/Clarkson Artistic/Getty Photographs
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Darius Bazley
Picture by Matthew Stockman/Getty Photographs
Grant Williams vs Darius Bazley
Bazley is considered one of two energetic gamers averaging in double figures for the Thunder. He’s averaging 10.6 factors, 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 blocks per recreation. He’s capturing 41.9% from the sector and 30.0% from past the arc. I’m guessing that with Timelord out, Grant Williams will begin on the 4 and Al Horford will transfer to heart. If Grant can include Jokic, he ought to be capable of take care of Bazley.
Honorable Point out
The Celtics vs Themselves
In a recreation like this towards an opponent who has an extended checklist of gamers out with accidents and a shedding report, the Celtics typically let up and permit the opposing group play tougher. It’s even tougher when it’s the last recreation of a street journey. Each recreation has playoff implications because the standings are so shut within the East. The Celtics can’t afford to lose to groups they need to beat. If the Celtics lose this recreation, it received’t be the Thunder who beat them, however the Celtics must beat themselves.
Keys to the Recreation
Protection – Protection is all the time a key to successful. The Thunder are final within the league in scoring, averaging simply 103.1 factors per recreation and they’re sixteenth with a defensive ranking of 111.1. The Celtics are sixteenth in scoring, averaging 109.7 factors per recreation and they’re first with a defensive ranking of 105.4. With their two finest defenders out, hopefully the others step up and maintain the Celtics sturdy on protection. The Celtics have to proceed to make protection their identification.
Rebound – Rebounding can be a key to successful. A lot of rebounding is want and energy and the Celtics should put within the further effort to seize rebounds. They should rebound on the defensive finish to maintain the Thunder from getting second likelihood factors and they should rebound on the offensive finish to present themselves further possessions. The Thunder are sixth in rebounding with 45.9 rebounds per recreation, simply behind the Celtics who’re fifth with 46.4 rebounds per recreation. The Celtics have to work laborious to beat the Thunder on the boards.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics should be aggressive and struggle for unfastened balls, 50/50 balls, and rebounds, and be aggressive on protection and in going to the ring. They should be the extra aggressive group and the group that performs tougher. They should be the group that wishes to win extra and play tougher on each ends of the court docket for all 48 minutes.
Play Quick and Transfer the Ball – The Celtics are at their finest once they transfer the ball and play quick, operating up the court docket and shifting with out the ball. They should make the additional move and discover the open man. The Celtics are 16-2 once they have 28 or extra assists in a recreation. The Celtics have to proceed to maneuver the ball and play as a group. The Celtics have to set the tempo and maintain the ball shifting with out getting careless.
X-Elements
Again to Again on the Street – Each groups are enjoying on the second night time of again to again video games and each groups needed to journey after Sunday’s recreation. The Celtics are enjoying of their 4th straight street recreation and their 4th recreation in 6 days. The Celtics have the benefit of getting a full roster whereas the Thunder have the benefit of being at house in entrance of their followers. The ultimate recreation of a street journey is all the time the toughest as a result of the gamers are drained and able to be house. Can the Celtics struggle all of these issues and are available out the winner?
Officiating – Officiating is all the time an x-factor. How the refs name the sport has an enormous affect on how the groups play. Will they allow them to play or name each little little bit of contact? Will they name it evenly or will they favor one group or the opposite. Will they be influenced by the house crowd or will they name it pretty for each groups? All of it results the result of the sport and the Celtics have to play the proper method and never enable the officiating to take them out of their recreation.
DraftKings
According to our friends at DraftKings, the Celtics are a large 14-point favourite towards the Thunder. After blowouts in three consecutive Western Convention cities, you possibly can perceive the boldness of the bettors. Oklahoma Metropolis has misplaced 9 straight and are nonetheless with out a big chunk of the common rotation. However Boston is on the second night time of a back-to-back and coming in late from Denver and Marcus Sensible and Robert Williams are out.
Over the past two seasons, the Thunder have been a scrappy opponent. The Celtics staged a fourth quarter comeback in OKC final 12 months and choked away a recreation at TD Backyard a month later. Again in November, they once more got here into Boston and practically stormed again from a 20-point deficit within the fourth quarter. However this isn’t that Celtics group anymore. Up to now out west, they’ve constructed large leads and for probably the most half, maintained them till the buzzer.
Take a look at DraftKings Sportsbook, the official sportsbook associate of SB Nation.
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