In a matchup of first within the East vs First within the West, the Celtics host the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder for the 2nd and remaining sport this season. The Thunder received the primary sport 127-123 in OKC on January 2. These 2 groups cut up the sequence 1-1 final season with every staff successful at dwelling. The Celtics are 78-66 general all time in opposition to the Thunder and they’re 39-27 in video games performed in Boston. The Thunder are taking part in within the second of again to again video games. They’re 7-5 on the second night time of again to again video games and they’re 1-2 when the video games are each on the highway.
The Celtics stay 1st within the East, 12 video games forward of 2nd place Milwaukee, 13.5 video games forward of third place Cleveland, 15 video games forward of 4th place Orlando, 15 video games forward of fifth place New York, and 16.5 video games forward of sixth place Indiana. They’re 32-3 at dwelling and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 20-7 in opposition to Western Convention groups and have received their final 2 video games.
The Thunder began Tuesday 1st within the West however ended the night time at third. They’re half a sport behind of 1st place Denver and 2nd place Minnesota. They’re 5 video games forward of the 4th place Clippers, 7 video games forward of fifth place Dallas and seven video games forward of sixth place New Orleans. They’re 23-14 on the highway and 7-3 of their final 10 video games. They’re 19-6 in opposition to Japanese Convention groups and they’re coming off a loss of their final sport.
The Celtics are taking part in within the first sport again dwelling after a 6 sport highway journey. They went 4-2 on the journey, beating Detroit, Chicago, New Orleans and Charlotte and shedding 2 video games to Atlanta. After this sport they’ll keep at dwelling for two video games in opposition to Sacramento, and Portland. Then it’s one sport on the highway in Milwaukee earlier than ending the season at dwelling in opposition to New York, Charlotte and Washington.
The Thunder are taking part in within the third sport of a 5 sport highway journey. They beat New York and misplaced to Philadelphia of their first two video games of the highway journey. The loss to the 76ers was with out their 2 high scorers. After this sport they’ll proceed the highway journey via Indiana and Chicago. They may then end the season with a 4 sport dwelling stand with the primary 2 video games in opposition to Sacramento after which Milwaukee and Dallas.
Jaylen Brown sat out Monday’s sport after injuring his hand within the sport in opposition to New Orleans. Jaden Springer missed that sport with a knee harm and JD Davison missed the sport with an ankle harm. As of now, solely 2 Celtics are on the harm report. Jaylen Brown is questionable with a left hand sprain and Jaden Springer is questionable with left knee tendinopathy. Each are anticipated to be a sport time resolution however I anticipate them to play if in any respect doable.
For the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed his third contest out of the Thunder’s final 4 video games when he sat out Tuesday’s sport at Philadelphia as a result of a proper quad bruise. Jalen Williams additionally sat out Tuesday in Philadelphia with a left ankle sprain. Each have been dominated out for this sport. Aaron Wiggins and Jaylin Williams began Tuesday’s sport vs Philadelphia and can seemingly begin as soon as once more.
Possible Celtics Starters
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PG: Jrue HolidaySG: Derrick WhiteSF: Jaylen BrownPF: Jayson TatumC: Kristaps Porzingis
Celtics ReservesOshae BrissettSam HauserAl HorfordSvi MykhailiukPayton PritchardJordan WalshLuke Kornet Xavier TillmanJaden Springer
2 Approach PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonNeemias Queta
Accidents/OutJaden Springer (knee) questionableJaylen Brown (hand) questionable
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Thunder Starters
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PG: Aaron WilliamsSG: Josh GiddeySF: Lugentz DortPF: Jaylin WilliamsC: Chet Holmgren
Thunder ReservesBismack BiyomboOusmane DiengGordon HaywardIsaiah Joe Mike MuscalaCason Wallace Lindy Waters IIIKenrich Williams
2 Approach Gamers Keyontae Johnson Olivier SarrLindy Waters III
Out/Accidents Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (quad) outJaylen Williams (ankle) out
Head Coach Mark Daigneault
Key Matchups
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Derrick White vs Josh GiddeyGiddey is averaging 12.2 factors, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. He’s capturing 47.6% from the sector and 34.4% from past the arc. In opposition to the Celtics within the first sport, Giddey completed with 23 factors, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. He shot 57.1% from the sector and 57.1% from past the arc.
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Kristaps Porzingis vs Chet HolmgrenPorzingis might be matched up with 7’1” Chet Holmgren. Holmgren is averaging 16.6 factors, 7.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and a couple of.4 blocks per sport. He’s capturing 53.3% from the sector and 37.3% from past the arc. He’s a troublesome cowl however this additionally ought to be a enjoyable matchup to observe.
Honorable MentionJaylen Brown vs Lugentz Dort Dort is averaging 10.6 factors, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. He’s capturing 47.6% from the sector and 39.8% from past the arc. Within the first sport in opposition to the Celtics he completed with 9 factors, 8 rebounds, 1 help, 3 blocks and 1 steal. In Tuesday’s sport in opposition to the 76ers, he completed with 15 factors, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks and a couple of steals whereas capturing 50% from the sector and 50% from past the arc.
Keys to the Recreation Protection – Protection is all the time the important thing to successful. The Thunder common 120.4 factors per sport (third) and they’re 4th with a defensive ranking of 111.5. The Celtics common 120.9 factors per sport (2nd) and they’re third with a defensive ranking of 110.7. The Celtics must tighten up their protection and make taking part in protection a precedence particularly in opposition to this Thunder staff that averages 120.4 factors and have a defensive ranking proper behind the Celtics. The Celtics must defend the paint for the reason that Thunder are seventh within the league with 52.5 factors within the paint per sport. However additionally they should defend on the perimeter as a result of the Thunder are first within the league, capturing 39.1% from past the arc.
Rebound – Rebounding can be a key to successful. The Celtics must rebound on the defensive finish to maintain the Thunder from getting second probability factors and they should rebound on the offensive finish to provide themselves further possessions. The Thunder are twenty seventh with 41.9 rebounds per sport whereas the Celtics are 2nd with 46.5 rebounds per sport. A lot of rebounding is need and energy and the Celtics as a staff should put within the further effort to beat the Thunder on the boards.
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 20.3 factors off turnovers per sport. The Celtics have to maneuver the ball as a result of they’re a a lot better staff once they transfer the ball and don’t over dribble. However they need to keep centered 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 Recreation – The Thunder are on the high of a troublesome Western Convention and are a really robust staff defensively. 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 centered on taking part in exhausting for 48 minutes, on taking part in robust protection, on preventing for rebounds, and on taking part in the precise method.
Don’t Underestimate – I nearly felt higher after I thought that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams had been taking part in. The Celtics have a method of taking part in down to groups lacking their stars, as they did in opposition to the Lakers with out LeBron and AD. The Celtics can’t underestimate the Thunder as a result of they’re absolutely able to beating the Celtics with out SGA and J Dub. They’re a younger and hungry staff and if the Celtics take them evenly, they’ll make them pay for it.
X-Components At Residence vs Again to Again – The Celtics are at dwelling and they need to get motivation from taking part in in entrance of their followers. It’s the first sport again after an extended highway journey and generally that sport is hard. The Celtics have had a time off after taking part in in Charlotte on Monday. The Thunder are taking part in again to again on the highway and so fatigue could also be an element for them down the stretch. The Thunder are 1-2 when their again to again video games are each on the highway and so the Celtics must defend their dwelling courtroom and draw power from their followers.
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 staff or the opposite. All of it results the end result of the sport and the Celtics must play the precise method and never enable the officiating to take them out of their sport. The refs have been fast to name techs for complaining this season and the Celtics must keep in mind that. Additionally, they need to by no means be caught complaining to the refs whereas the opposite staff goes in for a rating.
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