After blowing out the Houston Rockets, the Celtics traveled to the Sooner state for a Sunday matinee matchup towards the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. In what might be a possible NBA Finals matchup, Boston struggled as their hosts received their fifteenth recreation in a row and defeated the Celtics 105-92.
Jayson Tatum led the way in which for Boston with 26 factors and 10 rebounds, however it wasn’t sufficient to take down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 33 factors, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and a pair of blocks. The Celtics couldn’t hit something from past the arc as they shot 9-46 (19.6%), their worst perimeter efficiency of the season. Boston scored 65 factors within the first half and solely scored 27 within the second half because the Thunder protection shut down the Celtics offense.
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The sport began with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jaylen Brown buying and selling buckets as each groups set an aggressive tone on offense early. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum have been the first defenders on SGA to begin and dedicated to denying him the ball as a lot as doable. SGA was nonetheless capable of get sizzling regardless of the Celtics finest efforts, scoring 11 factors on 3-6 capturing within the first quarter, however Brown matched him with 10 factors of his personal.
Each groups obtained off to an electrical begin, however Boston had a 35-32 lead after the primary quarter of play. The Celtics have been aggressive when it got here to attending to the free throw line, going to the charity strip 11 instances within the quarter. On the flip aspect, the Thunder shot 52% from the sphere to maintain OKC in it.
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With SGA on the bench, the second quarter began with the Celtics selecting aside the Thunder’s paint protection. Each possession it was Kristaps Porzingis or Jaylen Brown blowing by the Thunder on the perimeter for a shot on the rim.
OKC’s plan on protection regarded to not enable Boston to get sizzling from three and make them rating within the paint. This is able to work nice for Boston because the Celtics went on an 11-3 to open up a double-digit lead on the Thunder halfway via the second quarter.
The Celtics defensive plan forcing one participant on the Thunder to beat them from three whether or not or not it’s Lu Dort or Kenrich Williams, and it appeared to work as Boston took a 65-55 into the half.
Jaylen Brown continued his dominant efficiency ending with 21 factors on 8-12 capturing on the half as no person on OKC might guard him. The Celtics completed with 4 gamers with double digits within the first half and shot 51% from the sphere. Boston solely shot 27% from three within the first half however their 34 factors within the paint made up for it. The Celtics have been capable of out rebound the Thunder within the first half 27-19 which led to a ton of quick breaks and simple baskets.
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Boston began the second half chilly on offense as SGA began to warmth up. He scored 7 fast factors to start the third quarter as he was capable of assault Jrue Vacation and Derrick White. The Celtics obtained fortunate that nobody else on the Thunder capitalized off of their sluggish begin as they shot 2-12 from the sphere and 1-8 from three to start the quarter.
The Celtics had a tough time producing factors, however Jayson Tatum was capable of preserve their lead intact together with a tricky bucket on the rim after driving on SGA and a pleasant fadeaway jumper.
Exterior of Tatum’s contributions, the Celtics offense was anemic because the Thunder’s protection compelled Boston in powerful pictures. Even with a Porzingis buzzer beater, the Celtics lead was minimize to 4 because the Thunder clawed again to make it an 80-76 recreation going into the fourth quarter. Boston shot an abysmal 5-22 from the sphere and 1-13 from three within the third quarter, scoring solely 15 factors.
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The Celtics continued to overlook threes because the Thunder took the lead for the primary time because the first quarter. After lacking 16 straight threes, Al Horford lastly broke the streak however the Thunder’s swarming protection continued to be an issue for Boston. An enormous mistake the Celtics made was going away from Brown and Tatum as the first defender on SGA. Jrue Vacation continued to get hunted on protection and the Celtics didn’t make an adjustment.
The Thunder continued to go off towards the Celtics as Lu Dort would steal an offensive rebound from Derrick White for a straightforward dunk and SGA hit an enormous three to make it a 7-point recreation with six minutes to go. Extra turmoil for the Celtics after they compelled a cease, SGA blocked Tatum on a quick break and located Isaiah Hartenstein for an alley-oop poster dunk on Derrick White.
Jayson Tatum lastly scored for the Celtics however no calls on the rim and offensive fouls killed any probability at Boston gaining momentum. The sport was actually over after Lu Dort hit back-to-back threes to make it a 12-point Thunder lead with two minutes to go. The Celtics solely scored 12 factors within the fourth quarter, their lowest scoring quarter of the season.
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The Celtics subsequent recreation is on Tuesday, January seventh at 10pm towards the Denver Nuggets.
