The Celtics had their six-game win streak snapped at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder Tuesday night, falling 127-123. With the loss, Boston drops to 10-7 on the road this season.
Tuesday night featured a meeting between two of the top four teams in the NBA and included seven players averaging 17 or more points this season.
Fresh off being named Western Conference Player of The Week, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put on a show, pouring in a game-high 36 points on 14-of-22 (63.6%) shooting from the field, dishing out a team-high seven assists and snagging six rebounds – as the Kentucky product displayed exactly why he is a bonafide MVP candidate.
Josh Giddey also contributed 23 points, including four threes (tying his season-high), to help the Thunder extend their winning streak to five games.
Kristaps Porzingis led the way for the Celtics, scoring 34 points on 12-of-18 (66.7%) shooting from the field and 2-of-3 (66.7%) from deep – notching his third 30-point game this season. The 7-foot-2 center also grabbed 10 rebounds and had three blocks en route to his fifth double-double of the season.
Jayson Tatum shrugged off a slow start, finishing with 30 points on 10-of-21 (47.6%) shooting from the field and 2-of-5 (40%) from deep. Tatum posted game-highs in rebounds (13) and assists (8).
Jaylen Brown struggled most of the night, finishing with 15 points on 4-of-18 (22%) from the field and 0-of-8 from distance. It was one of his worst nights of the season, as he was simply off all night – which has been such a rarity this season.
Here are three takeaways as the Celtics drop to 15-2 with their preferred starting five.
Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White keep the Celtics afloat in the first half
White temporarily left the game in the first quarter after a collision with Gilgeous-Alexander that left a cut above his left eye. The gash required four stitches on his eyebrow, but he returned early in the second quarter.
When White checked back in for the Celtics, Boston ripped off a 9-1 run, tying the game at 41 a piece.
While White provided a spark, it was Porzingis, in particular, that kept the C’s afloat in the first half. The Latvian native finished with 18 points on 7-of-9 (77.8%) shooting in the first half and snatched four boards (three offensive) – as the Thunder had no answers for the big man.
His elite rim protection was also on display as he recorded two rejections.
Porzingis’ contributions in the first half were especially important given the struggles of Tatum and Brown. Up until the 2:30 minute mark of the second quarter, the Jays were shooting a combined 1-of-9 (11.1%) – Yet the Celtics trailed by just two.
However, Tatum caught fire at the end of the half, scoring each of the last nine points for the C’s as Boston took a four-point lead into the break.
Couldn’t overcome an ugly third quarter
For as good as the Celtics have been in the third quarter recently, the old problem resurfaced Tuesday night.
Boston was outscored 40-25 in the third quarter. The C’s had no answer for the Oklahoma City offense, which shot 16-of-26 (61.5%) from the floor and 6-of-9 (66.7%) from distance in the frame.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 16 of his 36 points in the period. The 40 points scored by the Thunder were the most Boston has surrendered in a third quarter this season and was one point shy of their season-high allowed for any quarter.
Meanwhile, Boston shot 9-of-26 (34.6%) from the field and 3-of-12 (25%) from deep in the frame, as the Thunder made the C’s pay for their misses, killing them in the transition – a common story throughout the game as Boston’s transition defense was atrocious for most of the night.
“You can’t have a 40-point quarter against a team like that,” Joe Mazzulla said postgame. “They put pressure on you the entire game, so you have to have a high level of defensive activity, effort, connectivity, to make multiple efforts for the entire game.”
The hosts took a 12-point lead into the fourth quarter, a lead that ballooned up to 18 with a 10-4 run to start the fourth quarter.
However, the Celtics wouldn’t quit, trimming the lead down to just two in the closing minutes of the game with a 27-11 run.
Although it’s encouraging the way the Celtics fought back, the 18-point hole proved too costly for the C’s to overcome, as Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams made big shots down the stretch to slam the door on the Celtics, who dropped to 11-6 in clutch situations this season.
Tough road ahead
Make no mistake about it – this Oklahoma City Thunder team is a legitimate Finals contender.
“That’s a talented young team,” Porzingis said postgame. “I don’t believe this was some fluke for them. They’ve been playing really well.”
They have the second-youngest team in the NBA, hold the second-best record in the Western Conference with their 23-9 start, and are on pace for 59 wins.
They have already defeated the Celtics, Timberwolves, Nuggets (twice), Suns, Lakers, and Warriors (three times). This team is for real, and they still have boatloads of draft capital for the future.
They have a superstar in Gilgeous-Alexander, a potential Rookie of the Year in Holmgren, and a plethora of young talent in Williams, Giddey, and Luguentz Dort. What Sam Presti and the Thunder are building is very special, and they are already ahead of schedule.
As for the Celtics, the loss to the Thunder kicks off a grueling seven-game stretch.
Boston returns home to take on a Utah Jazz team that has won six of their last eight games Friday night, before heading out to Indiana for a two-game miniseries with the Pacers, who are 12-4 at home this season and have one of the league’s most dangerous offenses.
After that, the Celtics return home for one game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who hold the best record in the Western Conference – and defeated the Celtics in overtime earlier this season.
Finally, the stretch concludes with a trip to Milwaukee for a date with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, who sit two games behind the Celtics for the best record in the East.
This next week will be a big test for the Celtics.
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