In what very nicely could also be a preview of this yr’s NBA Finals, the Celtics tackle the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder within the third recreation of a 4 recreation highway journey. The Celtics opened the journey with wins over the Timberwolves and the Rockets. that is the primary of two video games between these two groups this season. They’ll meet for the 2nd and last time in Boston on March 12. They cut up the sequence 1-1 the final two seasons with every crew profitable on their house court docket. The Celtics are 79-66 general all time in opposition to the Thunder and they’re 39-38 in video games performed on the highway.
The Celtics stay 2nd within the East, 4.5 video games behind the primary place Cleveland Cavaliers, who’ve win their final 8 video games. The Celtics at the moment are 2 forward of the third place Knicks, who received 9 straight earlier than dropping their final recreation to the Thunder. The Celtics are 12-3 on the highway and they’re 6-4 of their final 10 video games. They’re 4-2 in opposition to Western Convention opponents and have received their final 3 video games.
The Thunder are in first place within the West. They’re 6.5 video games forward of 2nd place Memphis and seven forward of third place Houston. They’re 9 video games forward of the 4th place Los Angeles Lakers. They’re 15-2 at house and they’re 10-0 of their final 10 video games. They’re 10-0 in opposition to Jap Convention opponents and so they at the moment have a 14 recreation win streak.
The Thunder made a number of key strikes within the off season. The most important transfer might have been signing Isaiah Hartenstein away from the NY Knicks. He has particularly been essential because of the absence of Chet Holmgren. In addition they traded Josh Giddey for Alex Caruso. They drafted Nikola Subject, who will miss your complete season with a torn ACL. In addition they drafted Dillon Jones and Ajay Mitchell, with a watch to the longer term. Lastly, they signed undrafted Alex Ducas to a 2 manner contract.
That is the third recreation of a 4 recreation Western highway journey that began with again to again wins in Minnesota on Thursday and in Houston on Friday. After this recreation, they may end the highway journey in Denver on Tuesday. They’ll return house to face 2 extra Western Convention groups, Sacramento and New Orleans. They then head to Toronto to face the Raptors once more for the third time. They’ll then host Orlando and Atlanta earlier than their 2nd Western highway journey of the month via Golden State, Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers and Dallas.
Kristaps Porzingis returned to the beginning lineup within the Celtics’ final recreation in opposition to the Rockets after lacking 4 straight video games with a sprained ankle. He ought to be able to play on this recreation as nicely. Al Horford sat out Friday’s recreation for relaxation however is anticipated to return for this recreation. Jalen Brown has missed the Celtics’ final two video games with a shoulder pressure and is questionable for this recreation. I’m utilizing wishful considering and together with him within the beginning lineup. If he can’t play as soon as once more, Sam Hauser ought to as soon as once more get the beginning in his place.
For the Thunder, Alex Caruso will miss his seventh recreation with a hip pressure. Cason Wallace will doubtless proceed to start out in his place. Chet Holmgren is out with a proper iliac hip fracture. I anticipate Isaiah Hartenstein will proceed to start out in his place. The Thunder’s 3 two manner gamers are all additionally out with accidents. Alex Ducas (again), Adam Flagler (finger), and Ajay Mitchell (toe) are all out for this recreation. Rookie Nikola Subject is out for the season with an ACL tear.
Possible Celtics Starters
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PG: Jrue HolidaySG: Derrick WhiteSF: Jaylen BrownPF: Jayson TatumC: Kristaps Porzingis
Celtics ReservesLuke KornetPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaSam HauserBaylor ScheiermanJaden SpringerXavier Tillman, SrJordan Walsh
2 Means PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Accidents/OutJaylen Brown (shoulder) questionable
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Thunder Starters
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PG: Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderSG: Cason WallaceSF: Lugentz DortPF: Jalen WilliamsC: Isaiah Hartenstein
Thunder ReservesBranden CarlsonOusmane DiengIsaiah JoeDillon JonesAaron WigginsJaylin WilliamsKenrich Williams
2 Means PlayersAlex Ducas Adam FlaglerAjay Mitchell
Accidents/OutAlex Caruso (hip) out Alex Ducas (again) outAjay Mitchell (toe) outChet Holmgren (hip) out Adam Flagler (finger) out Nikola Subject (ACL) out
Head Coach Mark Daigneault
Key Matchups
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Jrue Vacation
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Photograph by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Photos
Jrue Vacation vs Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderGilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.2 factors, 5.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.1 blocks per recreation. He’s taking pictures 52.5% from the sphere and 35.6% from past the arc. Gilgeous-Alexander is tied for the lead within the MVP race and is the important thing to the Thunder’s profitable methods. As a way to sluggish the Thunder, the Celtics should decelerate SGA.
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Photograph by David Berding/Getty Photos
Jalen Williams
Photograph by Joshua Gateley/Getty Photos
Jayson Tatum vs Jalen Williams Williams is averaging 20.9 factors, 5.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.8 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 48.1% from the sphere and 35.3% from past the arc. Williams can rating each in and out and so the Celtics should stick with him on protection whether or not he’s within the paint or on the perimeter. Jayson Tatum has been taking part in very nicely on this highway journey and the Celtics want him to proceed that development on each ends of the court docket on this recreation.
Honorable MentionKristaps Porzingis vs Isaiah HartensteinHartenstein is averaging 12.2 factors, 12.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.3 blocks per recreation. He’s taking pictures 57.3% from the sphere and 0% from past the arc. He’s a menace to attain inside and is an excellent rebounder and shot blocker. The Celtics must hold him out of the paint and away from the rim.
Keys to the Sport Protection – Protection is all the time a key to profitable. The Thunder common 115.4 factors per recreation (tenth) The Celtics common 119.4 factors per recreation (4th). That is going to be a troublesome matchup for the Celtics because the Thunder are first within the league with a defensive score of 102.9 whereas the Celtics are sixth with a defensive score of 109.4. The Celtics must tighten up their protection and make taking part in protection a precedence particularly in opposition to this Thunder crew that performs lock down protection. The Celtics must particularly defend the paint for the reason that Thunder are tenth within the league with 49.9 factors within the paint per recreation.
Rebound – Rebounding can also be a key to profitable. The Celtics must 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 18th with 43.6 rebounds per recreation whereas the Celtics are eighth with 45.0 rebounds per recreation. A lot of rebounding is need and energy and the Celtics as a crew should put within the further effort to seize rebounds.
Take Care of the Ball – The Celtics must hold their focus and never flip the ball over. The Thunder are 1st within the league with 23.4 factors off turnovers per recreation. They’re additionally 1st with 11.8 steals per recreation. The Celtics have to maneuver the ball as a result of they’re a significantly better crew after they transfer the ball and don’t over dribble. However they need to focus and make cautious passes and never get sloppy. In addition they should bear in mind when dribbling the ball in order to not enable the Thunder to get steals. The Thunder will make them pay in the event that they get sloppy and switch the ball over.
Be Targeted and Prepared for a Powerful Sport – The Thunder haven’t misplaced to an Jap Convention crew this season. They’ve additionally solely misplaced 5 video games. The Celtics should be able to go to the basket in the event that they battle from three. In addition they should be able to shoot from midrange if each the paint and the perimeter are defended tightly. The Celtics should keep targeted on taking part in laborious for 48 minutes and on taking part in robust protection and on taking part in the precise manner.
X-Components On the Highway – The Celtics are taking part in of their third straight highway recreation. The Celtics have the benefit of getting a principally wholesome roster however then, the Thunder have received 14 straight video games regardless of lacking some gamers. The Thunder have the benefit of being at house in entrance of their followers and so they have nice followers. The Celtics want to beat the distractions of journey and taking part in on the highway in entrance of hostile followers.
Teaching – Joe Mazzulla led the Celtics to a championship in simply his second season however Mazzulla didn’t win the Coach of the 12 months final season. It was Thunder coach, Mark Daigneault that received the Coach of the 12 months honor. He’s additionally the Coach of the Month for December this season. Each rosters are deep and gifted and so teaching could also be an element on this recreation.
Officiating – Officiating is all the time an x-factor. How the refs name the sport has a giant 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 crew or the opposite. All of it results the result of the sport and the Celtics must play the precise manner and never enable the officiating to take them out of their recreation. The Celtics ought to by no means be caught complaining to the refs whereas the opposite crew goes in for a rating.
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