The Oklahoma City Thunder clinched a playoff berth on Wednesday night with a critical victory over the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. The Thunder's 106-98 win marked a significant achievement as they secured their spot in the postseason. Boston, playing without Kristaps Porzingis due to illness, faced challenges despite a strong performance from Jayson Tatum, who scored 33 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out eight assists.
Chet Holmgren was instrumental for the Thunder, delivering an impressive double-double with 23 points and 15 rebounds. Despite the absence of Jalen Williams due to a hip strain, Oklahoma City utilized a two-big lineup featuring Isaiah Hartenstein and Holmgren, which proved effective against the Celtics. This strategic adjustment allowed them to outperform their expected field goal percentage on three-point attempts.
Boston struggled with their shooting accuracy, particularly from beyond the arc. The Celtics went 20-for-63 from three-point range overall and attempted 47 catch-and-shoot three-pointers, marking the second-highest number of such attempts in franchise history. Despite their efforts, they could not capitalize on these opportunities, as highlighted by Jaylen Brown's performance, who finished 5-for-15 from the field and 0-for-5 from three-point range.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla acknowledged the opportunities his team had during the game.
"I thought we got amazing looks," said Mazzulla. "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. So I thought we generated relatively great looks throughout most of the game."
The Thunder's ability to stick to their game plan was a key factor in their success. Head coach Mark Daigneault emphasized the importance of adhering to their strategy, which helped them secure victories against the Celtics even with key players sitting out of the lineup. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shared his thoughts on the significance of facing a team like Boston.
"Because they've done it, because they've done what we're trying to do, the games against them are always going to be heightened," said Gilgeous-Alexander. "They're always going to be a little bit more exciting. They, like I said, achieved what we are trying to accomplish, and there's no better test in the NBA."
Despite Boston's efficient shooting from two-point range in the second half, where they went 15-for-19, they could not overcome Oklahoma City's well-executed game plan. The Thunder's defensive scheme focused on limiting Boston's effectiveness from beyond the arc, contributing significantly to their victory.
Jayson Tatum reflected on the game's outcome and stressed the importance of attention to detail when competing against elite teams.
"Better at the margins, the little things," Tatum stated. "You're playing against contending teams that are not really going to beat themselves. And 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 that, you just got to be a little bit better on."
With this win, Oklahoma City demonstrated their resilience and depth as they head into the playoffs. The Thunder have shown that they can compete at a high level even without some of their key players on the court. Their victory over Boston underscores their potential to make a significant impact in the postseason.
Leave a Reply