In a thrilling encounter, the Oklahoma City Thunder clinched a 127-123 win over the Boston Celtics, marking their fifth consecutive victory. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander spearheaded the Thunder’s success with a stellar 36-point performance, showcasing why Oklahoma City is one of the league’s emerging teams.
The Thunder have been on a remarkable run, winning eight of their last nine games, including victories over the defending champion Denver Nuggets, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Western Conference leader Minnesota Timberwolves, and now the Celtics. This latest win against the Celtics, who held the best record in the NBA, adds another feather to their cap.
Josh Giddey contributed significantly with 23 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, while Chet Holmgren added 14 points, seven assists, and four blocks. The Thunder’s resilience was on full display as they held off a late Celtics comeback, which saw an 18-point fourth-quarter lead reduced to just two points.
Kristaps Porzingis led the Celtics with 34 points, and Jayson Tatum added 30 points in a hard-fought game. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla acknowledged the competitive nature of the match, which he expected to be decided in the final moments.
The Celtics, who had been on a six-game winning streak, led 61-58 at halftime, powered by Porzingis’ 18 points. However, the Thunder turned the tide in the second half, with Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 16 points in the third quarter to give Oklahoma City a 98-86 lead entering the fourth.
A key moment came when Jalen Williams’ emphatic dunk in the fourth quarter pushed the Thunder’s lead to 108-90. Despite this, the Celtics mounted a late charge, with Derrick White’s three-pointer cutting their deficit to two points with just 41 seconds remaining. However, Gilgeous-Alexander and Giddey’s clutch free throws in the closing seconds sealed the win for Oklahoma City.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault praised his team’s poise and execution under pressure, especially in the game’s final moments.
Looking ahead, the Celtics will host the Utah Jazz on Friday, while the Thunder travel to face the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s performance, along with contributions from Giddey and Holmgren, underscores the Thunder’s potential as a top contender, while the Celtics look to regroup after this close defeat.
