The Boston Celtics (60-16) faced off against the Oklahoma City Thunder (52-24). The Celtics and the Thunder are two of the top teams in the NBA. This was a big win for the Celtics as they clinched the best record in the NBA and earned their spot as the number one seed.
Also, the last time these two teams faced the Celtics fell short. Many believe that it could be a Celtics Thunder final. For Boston, seeing that they are capable of beating the Thunder, though they were missing key players, is a confidence booster.
Boston Celtics Big Three Flourish
The Boston Celtics top scorers played very well tonight. Kristaps Porzingis led the charge with 37 points, 4 assists, and 12 rebounds. Next, Jayson Tatum had 24 points, 3 assists, and 7 rebounds. Lastly, Jaylen Brown gave the team 23 points, 4 assists, and 7 rebounds. Having their best three players performing like this before the playoffs is huge.
What Happened to the Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder were missing two of their key players, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. Both of these players typically give their team 20+ points, so not having them was rough. However, the Thunder’s other starters had pretty solid stats against Boston, so the win was possible here.
Oklahoma City was competing well against the Celtics until the last quarter, when the Celtics scored 42 points, and the Thunder scored only 17. They fell apart in the fourth. One of their main issues was Chet Holmgren playing 27 minutes and only coming away with 11 points. Another problem area tonight was Gordon Hayward, who played for 18 minutes and ended with no points.
Boston Can Now Focus on the Playoffs
With their spot now clinched, the Celtics should be mindful of how they play their stars. Head coach Joe Mazzulla should think about their health and ensure a full roster comes the postseason. This team is working like a well-oiled machine right now. However, if any of the pieces stop working, it could spell disaster for Boston come the first round.
In the next few games Tatum, Brown, and Porzingis should see less minutes. Boston has a solid bench that is capable of winning games. They starters shouldn’t sit for whole games, but they also shouldn’t be playing 30+ minutes. If it is possible, Mazzulla should give his bench players a few more minutes to keep the Boston Celtics stars healthy.
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Elizabeth is an avid watcher of all things sports. However, the Boston sports teams will always be her number one. Follow her on X @edellapiana1 .
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