Behind stunning shooting, Thunder blast Celtics

Despite enjoying with out main scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder shot 59.2 p.c from the sector and earned a 150-117 residence victory towards the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night time.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who’s averaging 30.8 factors per recreation, was a late scratch with a non-COVID sickness. He additionally leads the Thunder in assists (5.8 per recreation) and steals (1.7 per recreation).

The Thunder made 58 of 98 pictures from the sector, together with 20 of 40 3-point makes an attempt. The Celtics allowed 40 factors within the second quarter and 48 within the third.

All 5 Oklahoma City starters scored in double figures. Josh Giddey led the best way with 25 factors. Luguentz Dort had 23, Jalen Williams scored 21, Aaron Wiggins completed with 17 and Kenrich Williams tossed in 10.

The Thunder additionally acquired 21 factors off the bench from each Tre Mann and Isaiah Joe. Mann made 5 of his eight 3-point makes an attempt.

Jaylen Brown (29 factors) and Jayson Tatum (27) led the Celtics’ offense. Malcolm Brogdon and Payton Pritchard every completed the sport with 17 factors.

Celtics guard Marcus Smart was ejected after he acquired his second technical foul with 2:46 remaining within the third quarter. Smart had seven factors and eight assists in 26 minutes.

Oklahoma City was additionally with out Aleksej Pokusevski, who suffered a damaged left leg throughout a 130-114 victory over San Antonio on Dec. 27 and is predicted to be out at the very least six weeks. Pokusevski, the seventeenth general choice within the 2020 NBA Draft, is averaging a career-high 8.8 factors and 5.1 rebounds in 31 video games this season (25 begins).

The Thunder shot 56.9 p.c from the ground within the first half and led 74-54 at halftime. Joe scored a team-high 17 factors for Oklahoma City within the half. It was 122-91 after three quarters.

Boston beat Oklahoma City 126-122 when the groups met in Boston on Nov. 14. Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 37 factors in that recreation.

–Field Level Media/Reuters