OKLAHOMA CITY: That is one other signature win for the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 36 factors and Oklahoma Metropolis held off the NBA-leading Boston Celtics 127-123 on Tuesday evening for its fifth straight victory.
Oklahoma Metropolis has gained eight of 9. Throughout that stretch, the Thunder have crushed defending champion Denver twice, ended the Los Angeles’ Clippers win streak at 9, crushed Western Convention chief Minnesota and now topped the Celtics.
This one was harder than among the others. The Thunder beat Minnesota by 23 and Denver by 26 on the street final week.
This time, the Celtics trimmed an 18-point deficit within the fourth quarter to 2 earlier than Oklahoma Metropolis held on.
“I assumed we have been fairly resilient tonight,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault stated. “I assumed we took some punches.”
Josh Giddey had 23 factors, eight rebounds and 6 assists, and Chet Holmgren added 14 factors, seven assists and 4 blocks for the Thunder, who entered the evening with the league’s fourth-best document.
Kristaps Porzingis scored 34 factors and Jayson Tatum had 30 for the Celtics, who had gained six straight and 11 of 12.
“I assumed it was two nice groups,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla stated. “The sport went about how I assumed it will go so far as it coming right down to the final couple of possessions.”
Boston led 61-58 at halftime behind 18 factors from Porzingis. Gilgeous-Alexander stored the Thunder in it with 17.
The Thunder received off to a robust begin within the second half, and Giddey’s deep 3-pointer gave Oklahoma Metropolis a 76-69 lead. It received so irritating for the Celtics that Mazzulla was referred to as for a technical throughout the third quarter. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 16 factors on 7-for-10 taking pictures within the interval to assist Oklahoma Metropolis take a 98-86 edge into the fourth.
Oklahoma Metropolis began scorching within the fourth. Jalen Williams took off on a quick break, cocked the ball again together with his proper hand and introduced down the hammer on a dunk to provide the Thunder a 108-90 lead.
The Celtics rallied late. Derrick White hit a 3-pointer with 41 seconds remaining to chop Boston’s deficit to 121-119. Williams shortly responded with a brief floater to push the lead again to 4.
Porzingis was fouled with 15.2 seconds left, and he made each free throws to chop Oklahoma Metropolis’s result in 123-121.
Giddey was fouled with 12.1 seconds left. His first free throw rolled in and his second was excellent to place the Thunder up 4.
Porzingis hit a shot deep within the left nook with 3.7 seconds left. It was referred to as a 2-pointer as a result of it was dominated his foot was on the road, and that was upheld upon evaluation, so Boston nonetheless trailed by two.
Gilgeous-Alexander was fouled with 2.8 seconds remaining. With the gang chanting “M-V-P!” he made each free throws to place the sport away.
“Opened up a pleasant lead within the fourth quarter they usually stored coming,” Daigneault stated. “They’re clearly a very gifted crew. I assumed we have been a bit of sloppy on each ends of the ground making an attempt to slam the door on that sport, however then made large performs down the stretch and executed with poise.”
