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It’s been a topic around the NBA — players and coaches in the West saying they don’t fear the Thunder. It’s not simply a hot take in search of clicks, a couple of scouts/front office people have told NBC Sports that they see Oklahoma City as a regular season team that can be beat in the playoffs.
Someone might want to ask the Boston Celtics about that.
Oklahoma City went into Boston, had their defense excel in a playoff-like environment, and went on a late 15-4 run to pull away and beat the Celtics 118-112.
“We’re growing up, right before the world’s eyes,” Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said in his walk-off interview after scoring 34 on the night.
With the win, the Thunder clinched a top-six seed in the West and a playoff spot. Not that it was in doubt, Oklahoma City has an 11.5-game lead over second-place Denver in the West.
This showdown with Boston was a potential NBA Finals preview — it’s the betting favorite matchup according to our partners at BetMGM — and had the feel of a playoff game, not just because of the talent on the court but because of the high level of defense played by both teams.
There was a sequence where Gilgeous-Alexander was being hounded by Jrue Holiday, got the switch on a pick but All-Defense Derrick White picked him up, so SGA tried to free himself around another pick and this time Jaylen Brown jumped out on him — the depth of the Boston defense is why they are the defending champs. However, the Thunder still scored on that possession because of good ball movement and an Isaiah Joe 3-pointer.
On the other end, Cason Wallace was the primary defender on Jaylen Brown, and in the 4:28 he was on him, Brown shot 0-of-4. Brown finished the night 5-of-15 shooting (0-of-5 from 3) with 10 points, and he also fouled out. Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 33 points but was 4-of-13 from beyond the arc.
Boston launched 3-pointers all night but the Thunder did a solid job contesting them and Boston was just 20-of-63 (317%).
The game was tight until OKC went on a 15-4 run in the second half of the fourth quarter, and Boston could never make the ground. Oklahoma City was aided by Chet Holmgren having a…
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Author : NBC Sports
Publish date : 2025-03-13 03:49:00
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