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Winners of six consecutive video games, the Boston Celtics entered Monday night time’s matchup as one of many hottest groups within the NBA, seemingly clicking on each stage over the previous two weeks. But when they thought the Oklahoma City Thunder — winners of simply 46 video games during the last two seasons — have been going to make for straightforward prey, they have been sorely mistaken. As an alternative, the Celtics have been compelled to climate an offensive tirade on the a part of the younger Thunder, trailing for a lot of the night time earlier than pulling forward late within the fourth to lastly safe the victory.
Regardless of a poor 9-of-23 taking pictures night time from the sector, Jayson Tatum led the best way for Boston with 27 factors and made a defensive impression with 3 steals and three blocks. Proper behind him in scoring was Jaylen Brown, who scored 26 on 11-of-21 from the sector however didn’t document a made three. Derrick White, Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard mixed for 32 essential factors off the bench. On the opposite finish, 4 Thunder gamers recorded a number of made threes, whereas Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued his early season scoring outburst with 37 factors on the night time.
To date this season, these haven’t been the lowly Thunder groups we’ve grow to be accustomed to because the departure of Russell Westbrook. Led by Gilgeous-Alexander — the NBA’s Seventh-leading scorer — Oklahoma Metropolis entered the night with a surprisingly wholesome document of 6-7, recent off a 145-point scoring efficiency in regulation towards the Knicks. That offensive juice carried over to the early minutes of tonight’s sport, as an early 10-0 Thunder run appeared to place a sluggish Boston squad (33% taking pictures within the early minutes) on its heels. The Boston offense discovered its stride after an early Joe Mazzulla timeout, however the Thunder scored 35 first-quarter factors to steer by three getting into the second.
It was a notably poor begin for Tatum this night. By means of the start of the second quarter, he linked on simply one among his eight shot makes an attempt, with six of these misses approaching (largely open) appears from three. There was some evident frustration, after Tatum picked up the Celtics’ second technical foul of the sport after being whistled for his second private early within the quarter.
The T was maybe the jolt Tatum wanted, although, as he lastly transformed on his first three-pointer of the night shortly thereafter, earlier than plowing his manner into the paint moments later to get himself to the free throw line. Regardless of the early struggles, he nonetheless put up 15 first-half factors, second on the staff to Brown (18). Sadly, although, whereas the Celtics started to search out themselves on offense, that they had no solutions on the opposite finish of the courtroom. The Thunder piled up 69 factors within the first half — the worst mark the Celtics have allowed in a half this season — and entered the halftime break with a seven-point lead, 69-62.
The second half started a lot as the primary half ended: the Thunder hitting completely every part, whereas the Celtics generated open appears however didn’t convert on them. Oklahoma Metropolis continued to pile up made threes, whereas the Celtics laid brick after brick — together with a possession that featured two offensive rebounds and three missed threes. They only couldn’t string collectively sufficient consecutive performs to make any progress, and consequently, the Thunder maintained their halftime benefit, getting into the ultimate body with a 96-89 lead.
It was a late surge by Payton Pritchard that stored the Thunder lead inside grasp on the finish of the third quarter, and the third-year guard stored up the momentum early within the fourth with an early three. Oklahoma Metropolis’s Josh Giddey answered with an extended three of his personal, nonetheless, and the 2 groups largely treaded water for the early a part of the quarter.
Lastly, Tatum got here to life, drawing a goaltend and changing a layup and dunk to tug the Celtics to a 107-point tie with slightly below six minutes remaining, prompting a Thunder timeout. A couple of possessions later, he inched the Celtics right into a one-point lead with a 1-for-2 journey to the free throw line, earlier than ending a layup moments later to push the result in three. Oklahoma Metropolis tied the sport on an and-1 basket interference name, however Marcus Good’s first three-pointer of the sport proved to be the dagger, and the Celtics lastly put the Thunder away.
Subsequent up, the Celtics will hit the highway, kicking off a three-game tip with a matchup towards the Atlanta Hawks, this Wednesday at 7:30 PM on ESPN.
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