BOSTON (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 and Chet Holmgren had 23 factors and 15 rebounds on Wednesday night time to guide the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder to a 118-112 victory over the Boston Celtics in a much-anticipated potential NBA Finals preview.
The Western Convention-leading Thunder withstood a barrage of Boston 3-pointers — a franchise file 63 makes an attempt in all — to comb the defending NBA champions within the two-game season collection and win for the seventeenth time of their final 18 video games.
Jayson Tatum scored 33 for Boston, which had gained 5 straight and 15 of its final 18 video games. Al Horford added 18 factors and 10 rebounds, and Derrick White scored 22.
Oklahoma Metropolis scored the primary 9 factors of the sport and led by 12 halfway via the third earlier than Boston tied it 88-all on Tatum’s three-point play to finish the quarter. It was 98-98 within the fourth earlier than the Thunder ran off eight straight factors to tug away.
Takeaways
Thunder: After splitting a back-to-back in opposition to Denver, their closest competitor within the West, the Thunder managed the sport in opposition to the reigning champions and the possible No. 2 seed within the East.
Celtics: If the groups do meet for the championship, anticipate reigning NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown to play higher than his 5-for-15 taking pictures night time, lacking all 5 3-point makes an attempt and scoring 10 factors to match a season low earlier than he fouled out.
Key second
With the rating tied at 98 and eight minutes to play, Kenrich Williams hit a 3-pointer, Gilgeous-Alexander made a pair of free throws and, after Williams hit a free throw, Gilgeous-Alexander made a 15-foot turnaround jumper to make it an eight-point recreation.
Key stat
Boston’s 36 3-point makes an attempt within the first half had been essentially the most in any half in NBA historical past. They completed 20 for 63 — tying the third most makes an attempt in league historical past.
Up subsequent
The Celtics go to Miami on Friday and the Thunder are in Detroit on Saturday.
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