OKC Blue Route Celtics On Way to G League Championship

The Oklahoma City Thunder G Leauge affiliate, the OKC Blue, claims their first NBA G League Championship led by Thunder assignee Ousmane Dieng.

Stockton Kings Guard Mason Jones(15) drives the lane during a Western Conference Final Playoff game / Dan Rogers/Special to the Stockton

The Oklahoma City Blue, the Thunder's G League affiliate, brought back the NBA G League Championship on Monday after knocking off the Maine Celtics in Portland, Maine in a winner-take-all game 3.

After starting this journey as the third seed out West, the OKC Blue managed to navigate an absurd travel schedule which featured eight hotels, 22 bus rides and 50 hours in the air flying city to city.

"Having a team that keeps guys ready for whatever happens, it just so happened our travel was a little crazy but the most important skill you can have is being ready and being a punching bag when it comes to whatever is thrown your way," Blue head coach Kameron Woods told Inside the Thunder following their Game 3 win.

After winning three single elimination rounds, the Oklahoma City Blue were blown out in game 1 of the best-of-3 set against the Celtics last week. Facing elimination for two straight contests, the Blue stood tall winning back-to-back tilts with their backs against the wall.

The Oklahoma City Blue used a jaw-dropping 28-0 run to close the first half to put the game away before intermission. From there the Blue nursed a 15-plus point lead the rest of the way before breaking out the champagne in celebration.

Thunder assignees led the way for the Blue as 2022 Lottery pick Ousmane Dieng posted 25 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two blocks and former two-way guard Lindy Waters III turned in 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Adam Flagler chipped in 13 points, Olivier Sarr nabbed a 10 point and 13 rebound double-double, and 2023 second-round pick Keyontae Johnson's 14 points helped push the Blue past the finish line en route to an impressive 117-100 win over the Celtics.

This marks the Blue's first G League championship, after finishing runner-up in 2010. In Kameron Woods's second season on the sidelines, he has delivered the Blue a ring in a series that featured 13 players with NBA experience between the two squads.

The Blue finish the season by winning nine of their last ten contests including five elimination games.

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