Unleashing Thunder's Wrath: The Celtics' Dark Side Revealed in Potential Finals Preview
Unleashing Thunder's Wrath: The Celtics' Dark Side Revealed in Potential Finals Preview
On Sunday, the highly-anticipated NBA showdown between the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder unfolded, boasting the potential of a future Finals matchup. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander acknowledged the significance of this game for the Thunder, setting the stage for an intense clash.
Missing two key players, Alex Caruso and Chet Holmgren, Boston managed to regain Jaylen Brown from a shoulder injury, strengthening their lineup. The star-studded Celtics featured their 2024 NBA Finals MVP with a complete top-eight squad, presenting a formidable challenge for the young Thunder team.
Boston had an edge in the first half, with Brown leading the charge, scoring 21 points and demonstrating a commanding presence against the league's stingiest defense. The Thunder's surge in the second quarter saw them rack up 24 points in the paint, making an impressive first half performance with over 50% field goal accuracy.
The defense-focused Celtics took control, limiting the Thunder to 41.7% shooting in the second quarter. Masterful rotation and closeouts were evident during this period, holding the Thunder to 32% shooting in the second quarter. Boston's strategy of protecting the rim and denying the Thunder's top-scoring threats from getting deep paid off, requiring the Celtics to adjust their focus on fewer players.
Oklahoma City, notorious for its third-quarter dominance, responded with elevated defensive intensity and physicality. The hosts' efforts in limiting the Celtics' scoring in the third quarter flipped momentum, cutting their deficit to a mere four points heading into the final period.
Dort's second-half shooting shift from a scoreless first half to a trio of threes in the fourth quarter was an illustration of the Thunder's resurgence. The hosts made 5/7 threes in the last 12 minutes, pushed their field goal percentage to 62.5%, and scored ten points in the paint during this time. Exemplifying the Thunder's dominance, both sides gave the ball away seven times, but Oklahoma City outscored the visitors 13-3 off turnovers.
Brown's scorerless second half, following Dort's primary assignment, and a combined scoreless performance from Brown, Jrue Holiday, Derick White, Payton Pritchard, and Sam Hauser left the Celtics with a poor spacing, ultimately leading to a dismal second half. Boston's 20% field goal rating, in conjunction with 3/24 3-point percentages, amounted to their worst offensive half this season. The fortuitous second-half surge propelled the Thunder to a 105-92 victory, showcasing their ability to dictate the terms of play and capitalize on the officials allowing the game to get as physical as it did.
Empowered by this victory, the Thunder embarked on a mission to maintain success and build upon their momentum as they prepared for their upcoming encounter with the Celtics in March. An impressive performance against a full-strength Celtics team bolstered their confidence, and the prospect of facing off against each other in June added to their determination.
Lu Dort's defensive assignment against Brown and his heroic fourth-quarter shooting, combined with the Thunder's indefatigable second-half defense, ensured they held the reigning champions to only 92 points, marking a significant milestone. This victory not only represented a confidence boost for the Thunder's regular season but also served as a critical precedent for a potential Finals showdown.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander commended the importance of the game against the Celtics, highlighting it as a potential NBA Finals matchup for the Thunder in the future. Despite missing two key players, the Celtics managed to bring back Jaylen Brown, further strengthening their lineup for the highly-anticipated NBA Finals matchup. In the NBA Finals, Joe Mazzulla's gameplan saw Boston's top-eight squad limit Joe Dort's scoring in the first half, but Dort responded by scoring a trio of threes in the fourth quarter, leading the Thunder to a 105-92 victory against the reigning champions.