OKC Thunder stretch NBA win streak to 13 as Celtics edge out Timberwolves

NEW YORK – Oklahoma City Thunder stretched the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) best active win streak to 13 games with a home victory on Jan 2, while reigning champions Boston Celtics held on for a win at Minnesota.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had game highs of 29 points and eight assists to spark the Thunder over the Los Angeles Clippers 116-98 at Oklahoma City, improving the Western Conference leaders to 28-5.

Their win streak is the longest since the team relocated from Seattle after the 2007-08 season. Before becoming the Thunder in 2008, the Seattle Supersonics notched 14 straight wins during the 1995-96 season from Feb 3 to March 6.

“It’s just being present, going day by day, working on ourselves and I think we’re doing a good job on that,” said Isaiah Hartenstein, who added 11 points, nine rebounds and six assists for the Thunder.

Oklahoma City trailed 52-48 at half-time but outscored the Clippers 42-20 in the third quarter and Los Angeles never closed the gap. Over the last two games, the Thunder have outscored their opponents 85-43 in the third.

“We wanted to come out and just pick up the pressure,” Hartenstein added of their comeback.

“We weren’t playing the way we wanted, with the force we wanted. We wanted to pressure them and I think we did a good job of that.”

The Thunder, leading the NBA in points off turnovers, cranked up the heat defensively after the interval to take control.

Oklahoma City forced seven turnovers in the third and turned those into 17 points on the other end. They scored 31 total points off turnovers in the win.

At Minnesota, the Celtics were without Jaylen Brown due to a right shoulder strain and Kristaps Porzingis with an ankle sprain but won for the third time in four games to start a difficult road trip, dispatching the Timberwolves 118-115.

Jayson Tatum led Boston with 33 points on 13-of-27 shooting, six of 17 from three-point range, and added nine assists and eight rebounds.

“No JB. No KP. We’ve had a rough stretch this last eight or nine games,” Tatum said.

“So this January we’re going to try to turn it around and get back to our identity.

“What better way than to come in on the road in a tough environment against a really good team down two of your best players and the way that we responded, figured out a way to win, we will take that any day.”

The Celtics (25-9) made only three turnovers while forcing 15 by the Timberwolves (17-16), who made it close by outscoring Boston 20-4 at the free-throw line.

The T-Wolves led 35-28 after 12 minutes, but the Celtics pulled ahead 62-51 at half-time.

Donte DiVincenzo sank three free throws with 28 seconds to play to pull Minnesota within 118-115 and they got the ball after a Tatum miss with 3.1 seconds remaining.

But Anthony Edwards missed a three-pointer at the buzzer to give Boston the victory.

“Just had to stick with it,” Tatum said of Boston’s defensive work. “They were hitting some tough shots. You’ve got to live with something, can’t take everything away. Stick to the game plan, compete.”

Derrick White added 26 points for Boston. Julius Randle led Minnesota with 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

The Celtics began a four-game road swing against top clubs with future stops at Houston, Oklahoma City and Denver.

“I love the way we competed,” Tatum added. “Our physicality was on point. That’s what it’s going to take.

“We play four really good, difficult teams on the road. We’re going to need everybody in these games.”

Elsewhere, Brooklyn’s Cameron Johnson scored 26 points and Cam Thomas added 24 off the bench as the Nets won 113-110 at Milwaukee Bucks.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 27 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists for the Bucks while Damian Lillard added 23 points, but the Milwaukee stars missed crucial shots to doom a late rally.

Lillard, in particular, would rue not taking his chance after missing a game-tying three-pointer at the buzzer. AFP, REUTERS