- Gilgeous-Alexander Drops 34 as Thunder Beat Celtics
- Thunder defense shuts down Celtics 63 three-point attempts
- Chet Holmgren posts 23 points and 15 rebounds
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put up 34 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder secured a spot in the playoffs with a thrilling 118-112 win over the reigning champion Boston Celtics, in what could be a preview of the NBA Finals.
Gilgeous-Alexander bolstered his MVP candidacy with a stellar performance that quieted the TD Garden crowd in a gripping game, decided by a strong scoring surge from the Thunder in the fourth quarter. The Canadian point guard went 11-of-20 from the field, adding five rebounds, seven assists, and 34 points, including 10-of-11 from the free-throw line.
The win pushed Oklahoma City, currently leading the Western Conference, to a 54-12 record, guaranteeing them a place in the playoffs next month.
Wednesday’s victory over a more experienced Boston team was another testament to the maturity of the league’s youngest squad. The Thunder effectively sealed the win late in the fourth quarter, stretching their lead to double digits with under two minutes to play after Cason Wallace nailed a clutch 24-foot three-pointer, followed by a reverse layup.
Gilgeous-Alexander credited Oklahoma City’s defensive effort for the win, especially in limiting Boston’s barrage of 63 three-point attempts. “We were able to get stops, and that’s been the trend for us recently,” he said. “When you’re coming down the stretch against a good basketball team, you’ve got to find a way, and we did so tonight and gave ourselves a chance.”
While Gilgeous-Alexander took the spotlight for his scoring, Chet Holmgren impressed with a double-double, posting 23 points and 15 rebounds. “We all know the player Chet Holmgren is,” said Gilgeous-Alexander of his 22-year-old teammate. “He’s a stud, and he’s going to be a stud for a very long time. He’ll continue to grow and be special.”
Jayson Tatum led Boston with 33 points, while Derrick White added 22. Despite missing Jaylin Williams, the Thunder had seven players reach double digits in scoring against the Celtics.
Oklahoma City’s victory comes as they look to reclaim an NBA title, having last won one in 1979 when the franchise was based in Washington and known as the Seattle SuperSonics.
