Porzingis on Thunder: “that’s a talented young team”

If the Celtics have been final 12 months’s standings, it’s doable that they didn’t circle January 2nd on their calendar this season. The Thunder completed 40-42 and we’re knocked out of the Play-In Event in a blowout to the Timberwolves.

However what a distinction a 12 months makes.

Getting into Tuesday’s conflict of the titans, Oklahoma Metropolis was 22-9 and coming off blowouts of the Western Convention 1-seed Minnesota and defending champion Denver. Eligibility discussions apart, Chet Holmgren is enjoying like a Rookie of the 12 months candidate and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is legitimately within the Most Invaluable Participant dialog.

“That’s a proficient, younger group. I don’t consider this was some fluke sport for them,” Kristaps Porzingis mentioned after the 127-123 loss to the Thunder. “They’ve been enjoying rather well. They’re high of the West. They’re a extremely good group to go up in opposition to and [it was] a extremely good expertise for us.”

After weathering a Thunder storm within the first half, the Celtics held a 3-point at halftime, however a 40-25 third quarter that included 16 factors from SGA had Boston enjoying catch up the remainder of the way in which.

Head coach Joe Mazzulla pointed to Boston’s incapacity to finish possessions on the rim and subsequently restrict OKC’s transition sport because the turning level. Right here’s Barstool Sports activities’ Dan Greenberg with among the confounding numbers:

To make issues worse, the Thunder hit 18-for-40 from behind the arc. They’re the league’s greatest taking pictures group from behind the arc (39.3%). Nonetheless, the Celtics are essentially the most prolific (42.8 3FGAs per evening on 37.4% taking pictures); regardless of Jaylen Brown lacking all eight of his three-point makes an attempt, Tuesday’s loss is simply the primary time all 12 months that they’ve misplaced a sport when the group hits at the very least a 3rd of their threes (15-of-40).

Boston staged a late sport comeback with some well timed taking pictures, factors off turnovers, and adjusting their protection. SGA completed with 36 factors, however didn’t hit a discipline purpose within the ultimate body with Jayson Tatum (30 factors, 13 rebounds, and eight assists) usually taking over the defensive project.

“We stayed sq. and didn’t give him angles to the basket which is difficult to do as a result of it’s each single possession,” Mazzulla mentioned of bottling up Gilgeous-Alexander to shut the sport. “I believed within the fourth quarter, we did a greater job. We picked up slightly larger. We stayed sq., didn’t give him any angles and if we did, we had guys on the rim. We gave a number of efforts.”

However ultimately, Oklahoma Metropolis added one other statement win to their resume and put your entire league on discover. With armchair GM’s buzzing concerning the Thunder wanted to make an improve earlier than the commerce deadline, they proved final evening and over the last five games that they’re already at contender standing.

“They’re a troublesome group to protect and I believe the entire league is making an attempt to determine it out,” Derrick White mentioned.

The Thunder don’t go to TD Backyard for one more three months on April third.