Inside The Celtics

Here's What Stood Out as Celtics' Slow Start to Final Frame Too Much to Overcome vs. Thunder

A dominant third quarter by the Thunder and a missed opportunity by the Celtics in the fourth helped the former prevail in this potential Finals preview.

Bobby Krivitsky

Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
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The Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder squared off in a potential NBA Finals preview on Tuesday night at Paycom Center.

The visitors, who entered the night riding a six-game winning streak and had won 11 of their last 12 games, went into halftime with a 61-58 edge after Kristaps Porzingis, who led all scorers with 18 points in the first 24 minutes, served as the driving force that changed the game in the second quarter.

When the seven-foot-three center checked back in with 8:15 left in the frame, the hosts had momentum and an eight-point lead. But after Aaron Wiggins finished his trip to the free-throw line, Boston outscored Oklahoma City 29-17 the rest of the period.

Unfortunately for the Celtics, who had been playing much better of late in the third quarter, including generating 40 points to the San Antonio Spurs' 23 in their 134-101 New Year's Eve victory, the first 12 minutes after intermission belonged to the Thunder.

Despite playing with four fouls for most of the period, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took over the tilt, erupting for 16 of his game-high 36 points. Boston had no answer for him as the star guard fueled a dominant display by the hosts as they outscored the team with the NBA's best record, 40-25.

And even with Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Josh Giddey on the bench to open the final frame, with Jaylen Brown struggling to find his rhythm, finishing with 18 points on 4/15 shooting, including 0/8 from beyond the arc, the Celtics missed a prime opportunity to at least cut into their double-digit deficit. Instead, it ballooned to 18.

But to Boston's credit, it fought valiantly, testing the mettle of a young opposition that stayed poise even as Jayson Tatum switched onto and quieted Gilgeous-Alexander.

The visitors rallied, and the game came down to the wire, but here's what stood out, including a noteworthy absence from their crunch-time lineup, as they fell short, 127-123, in a matchup that may resurface in June.

1. The Celtics had trouble containing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the first frame, with the Thunder star registering 11 points, scoring from all three levels, including a pair of finger roll layups.

But even with the former Kentucky Wildcat doing damage despite dealing with Derrick White and Jrue Holiday as primary defenders and Boston committing four first-period turnovers, leading to an 8-0 edge in points off giveaways for the hosts, the visitors only trailed 31-29 after 12 minutes.

That had a lot to do with Kristaps Porzingis' assertiveness and productive pick-and-rolls with Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown operating as the ball handler.

The seven-foot-three center finished the first quarter with 12 points, pacing all participants. He did so on 5/7 shooting.

2. While the score stayed close, there was a first-frame scare when White's momentum sent him careening into Gilgeous-Alexander. The two collided face-to-face, cutting the former Colorado Buffalo.

White required four stitches and glue to close the gash above his left eye but returned in the second quarter.

3. With momentum and an eight-point lead on the Thunder's side, Porzingis checked back in with 8:15 left in the second frame. After Aaron Wiggins, already at the free-throw line, made his second attempt, the Celtics immediately ripped off a 9-0 run that included a pair of blocks by the Latvian native.

The visitors' defense and pace picked up, starting with that burst, helping them move the ball more effectively to create quality shots. They outscored Oklahoma City 29-17 from when Wiggins made his free throw through halftime.

That included a late 9-0 run, taking their first lead of the game on a Tatum three, pulling ahead 55-52 with two minutes remaining before intermission. That burst ballooned to 13-4, helping Boston enter the break with a 61-58 edge.

4. While Gilgeous-Alexander paced the hosts with 17 points in the first 24 minutes, Porzingis led all scorers with 18 on 7/9 shooting, doing most of his damage inside the arc.

He went 2/3 on three-point attempts but made even more of an impact as a screener, punishing switches and capitalizing on his three offensive rebounds.

The former All-Star was the driving force for the Celtics in the first half, with him and Tatum, the latter producing 14 points, helping overcome Brown struggling to find his rhythm, faring 1/8, including 0/4 from three-point range in the first 24 minutes.

5. Despite Gilgeous-Alexander picking up his fourth personal foul with 8:52 left in the third quarter, the 2022-23 All-NBA First Team selection stayed in the game.

That decision proved wise, as he generated 16 points in the period and avoided a fifth foul.

Josh Giddey also gave Boston fits. The Australian native successfully attacked Porzingis off the dribble, knocked down two threes, and went 4/4, putting 11 points on the board.

The duo helped the hosts control the pace for most of the frame, as Oklahoma City, who manufactured 16 points in the paint, outscored their guests 40-25, taking a 98-86 advantage into the last 12 minutes. 

6. Despite Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Giddey starting the fourth quarter on the bench, Jalen Williams and the Thunder's second unit outplayed the Celtics in the first six minutes, including staging a 10-2 run. That helped grow their lead to 18.

But Boston landed a defensive-led counterstrike to stay in the contest, responding with a 12-2 push to pull within eight, 110-102, with 5:09 to play.

7. That run grew to 14-4, then 18-6. While the visitors showed impressive grit and resiliency, the hosts had eased up on the gas pedal. Still, they stayed poised as the C's roared back with a 27-11 push.

Two noteworthy developments from that stretch were Payton Pritchard playing over Jrue Holiday and Tatum doing an excellent job defensively against Gilgeous-Alexander. The former played well, but the latter keeping Oklahoma City's best player in check was crucial to Boston giving itself a chance to win.

It came down to the wire, but the Celtics couldn't get the stop needed to give themselves a chance to tie or take the lead. Credit the Thunder for fending off their furious rally, hanging on for a 127-123 win.

8. The Celtics return home to host the Utah Jazz on Friday night. That game will tip off at 7:00 EST.

Further Reading

Celtics' Maturation, Sacrifice Fueling Their Success

Derrick White Opens Up About Journey from Uncertainty He Belonged in the NBA to an All-Star Caliber Guard

Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'

Jrue Holiday's Assertiveness Elevating Celtics' Offense

Luke Kornet Opens Up About Handling Inconsistent Role, Putting the Team Over Himself

Jayson Tatum's Selflessness vs. Lakers Exemplifies Celtics' Maturation: 'Hopefully, It's Gonna Pay Off'

Celtics' Offensive Approach Outweighs Three-Point Struggles in Christmas Victory vs. Lakers

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'

Jayson Tatum Joins PR Team for Derrick White’s All-Star Campaign

Jaylen Brown Shares His View of What Defines 'Celtics Basketball'

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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