Two of the NBA's hottest teams, the Boston Celtics and the Oklahoma City Thunder, played out a playoff-caliber matchup on Tuesday night, and the results were as advertised. Although the Celtics rallied in the fourth quarter, they fell 127-123, ending their six-game winning streak.
MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with a game-high 36 points, including 16 in the third quarter to help OKC build a huge lead. Boston fought back in the fourth quarter, with Kristaps Porzingis (34 points), Jayson Tatum (30 points) and Derrick White (19 points) all making key contributions. However, they couldn't overcome an early deficit and SGA's overall performance.
One of the key takeaways for the Celtics was their success in slowing down Gilgeous Alexander in the fourth quarter. Jayson Tatum stepped up as the primary defender and limited SGA to 0-of-3 shooting in the final quarter. It was his worst shooting performance in a fourth quarter since December 2022.
Another key factor in the Celtics' comeback was Peyton Pritchard taking over as the starting point guard in the fourth quarter. His defensive intensity and physicality, as well as his offensive spacing provided a much-needed boost that helped Boston close the gap.
While the result was not as good as it could have been, the Celtics should learn valuable lessons from this challenging matchup. The experience of facing the best offensive team in the West and testing their in-game adjustments against a dynamic opponent like the Thunder will undoubtedly benefit them in the long run.
Despite the loss, Porzingis recognized the talent of the Thunder and viewed the game as a positive learning experience. He praised OKC's performance and emphasized the importance of Boston's last-minute comeback as a sign of their resilience.
Overall, the Celtics-Thunder matchup lived up to the hype and showcased two of the most exciting teams in the league. Although Boston was unable to pull out a victory this time around, their ability to fight back and the valuable lessons they learned from facing such a formidable opponent should serve them well in their championship bid.
