BOSTON -- The Oklahoma City Thunder clinched a playoff berth Wednesday night, but simply returning to the playoffs is far from the goal for the franchise. After last season's heartbreaking loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference semifinals, the Thunder are aiming for their first NBA championship. They made a significant statement by defeating the defending champion Boston Celtics 118-112 at TD Garden, completing a sweep over the two-game season series between the teams.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder guard and front-runner for the NBA MVP, scored 34 points, alongside 5 rebounds and 7 assists during 39 minutes on the court. "It's huge," Gilgeous-Alexander said, emphasizing the importance of their victory over the Celtics. "Because they've done what we're trying to do, the games against them are always going to be heightened. They're always going to be more exciting. I guess we passed two tests so far." His performance was complemented by Chet Holmgren, who scored 23 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, contributing significantly to the Thunder's success.
The Thunder's win came even without All-Star Jalen Williams, who was sidelined with a hip strain, and Alex Caruso, who was out due to illness. Despite these challenges, Oklahoma City showcased their depth and resilience against Boston.
Though the Celtics managed 15-for-19 shooting inside the arc during the second half, they were hampered by their 3-point shooting, finishing just 20-for-63 from beyond the arc, tying the third most attempted 3-pointers in NBA history.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla acknowledged the deficiencies of their strategy, stating, "I thought we got amazing looks. I mean, that's just the shell of their defense. They protect the paint first. They fight, they try to get out, their 2-on-1 reads were really good." Boston had attempted 47 catch-and-shoot 3-pointers, the franchise's second most ever, but were unsuccessful from the 3-point line, particularly in the game's second half.
Oklahoma City started strong, jumping to the first nine points of the game and building as much as a 12-point lead midway through the third quarter. Boston evened the score at 88-all, capped by Jayson Tatum's pivotal three-point play. Tatum himself had a stellar game, scoring 33 points, alongside 8 rebounds and 8 assists.
With the score tied at 98 and around eight minutes to play, the Thunder seized control with key contributions from their lineup. Kenrich Williams hit a momentum-shifting 3-pointer, followed by Gilgeous-Alexander scoring back-to-back free throws and hitting a 15-foot turnaround jumper, pushing the Thunder's lead to eight.
On the flip side, Boston's Jaylen Brown struggled throughout the game, shooting only 5-for-15 before fouling out with over three minutes left, totaling just 10 points. Brown acknowledged Oklahoma City's physicality affected his performance, saying, "Tougher team sets the rules. They had a good level of physicality tonight, and I could be more physical... I didn't meet the level of physicality tonight. I had no free throw attempts, and that's unusual."
The Celtics could not capitalize on their shooting chances, particularly from 3-point range. Brown's underwhelming performance came after he was instrumental for the Celtics during their recent five-game winning streak.
For the Thunder, this win marks their 17th victory in their last 18 games, underlining their status as contenders for the title. Gilgeous-Alexander, mindful of the road still to travel, dismissed questions about whether the Thunder are playing at championship level. "We have a long way to go to achieve our goals this season," he commented.
Conversely, Tatum reflects optimism about the Celtics, mentioning, "Everybody has to play a little bitbetter. Better at the margins, the little things... The little things, make sure you get the 3-for-2, not fouling jump shooters at the end of the clock, live ball turnovers, things like these, you just got to be a little bitbetter on. We all do. And we will."
Walking off the court Wednesday night, players from both teams were surely aware of the stakes, knowing the possibility of facing each other again come playoff time remains high. When they do, both franchises will look to make the necessary adjustments from these encounters.
The Celtics will look to regroup as they head to Miami for their next match, and the Thunder will face Detroit on Saturday. The race for playoff position intensifies as the regular season draws to its thrilling close.