As the NBA season enters its final stretch, emotions are running high across the league as teams prepare for the upcoming playoffs. Tonight, we saw the intensity of the moment on full display at TD Garden as the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder had their second and final meeting of the season.
After winning the first game at home back in January (105-92), the Thunder came into hostile territory confident about their chances. They set the tone right away with a 33-point first quarter to keep pace with the Celtics all the way through until a late fourth-quarter run sealed the six-point win (118-112).
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the leading scorer for OKC with 34 points, five rebounds, and seven assists on 11-20 shooting. Chet Holmgren dropped 23 points, 15 rebounds, and two assists while Cason Wallace contributed 14 points, four rebounds, and three assists on 5-6 shooting.
For the Celtics, Jayson Tatum finished with 33 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists in 41 minutes. Derrick White tallied 22 points, eight rebounds, five assists, two steals, and three blocks on 7-14 shooting. At center, Al Horford tallied 18 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists on 6-14 shooting.
The Celtics are winless against the Thunder this season, but you can’t blame them for failing to contain the hottest team in the West. Whether you love or hate the Thunder, you have to give them credit for stepping up late and defeating the defending champions on their home court.
MVP Performance For Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
The 2024-25 NBA MVP race is currently a two-way tie between Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. While Jokic is putting up historic numbers with the Nuggets, Shai is the best player on the best team in the West and his skills are undeniable.
Tonight, in 39 minutes, he dropped 34 points, five rebounds, and seven assists on 11-20 shooting. He torched the Celtics at the line, going 10-11 as he racked up fouls against Derrick White and Jaylen Brown, who both fouled out of the game.
Shai did everything on the court tonight and he proved once again why he’s at the top of the MVP conversation. He was the best player on the court and it could make the difference if they meet in the playoffs.
43 Missed Threes For The Celtics
The Celtics live and die by the three-pointer and they usually have enough firepower to outshoot their competition. Against the Thunder, however, Boston shot themselves out of the game with a horrid performance from three.
Out of 94 shot attempts, 63 of them were from three. Yet, the Celtics failed to shoot above 31.7% (20-34) from the perimeter and it nearly brought their offense to a halt. If not for Jayson Tatum, the game might have been a blowout from the very beginning.
After winning five straight games, the Celtics were at their best going into Wednesday’s matchup but it still wasn’t enough to get the win and keep their streak alive. They couldn’t handle the length and athleticism of the Thunder, which makes them one of many teams in the NBA this season.
Chet Holmgren Outperforms Jaylen Brown
Without the shooting to power the offense, the Celtics had to rely on their role players to step up and overdeliver. Unfortunately for them, the Thunder’s role players had a much better night – starting with young big man Chet Holmgren.
Holmgren, who was drafted second overall in 2022, outperformed Jaylen Brown tonight and established himself as arguably the best second option in the NBA. In 34 minutes, he dropped 23 points, 15 rebounds, and two assists on 8-14 shooting.
While Holmgren and Thunder players like Cason Wallace and Lugentz Dort stepped up for the Thunder, Jaylen Brown was a complete no-show with 10 points, five rebounds, and two assists on 5-15 shooting.
As two of the best teams in the NBA this season, we knew that this showdown was going to be highly competitive and you could tell that both teams desperately wanted the win. In the end, however, the Thunder proved to be the more complete team and faith has never been stronger in their ability to make a long postseason run.
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