Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stars as Oklahoma City Thunder roll past Boston Celtics

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma City Thunder are taking the National Basketball Association (NBA) by storm this season as they chase down Western Conference leaders Minnesota Timberwolves.

On Jan 2, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 36 points as the team snapped Boston Celtics’ six-game winning streak with a 127-123 home victory for their fifth straight win.

The Thunder have won eight of their last nine games and, during this impressive run, they have defeated champions Denver Nuggets twice, ended the Los Angeles Clippers’ nine-game winning streak, beaten the Timberwolves and now edged out Eastern Conference leaders Celtics.

“Those guys have been to multiple conference Finals, won plenty of basketball games and they have the best record in the league,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of Boston.

“We knew it was going to take a whole game if we wanted to beat them. No matter how big the lead, we knew they weren’t going to lie down.”

A heavyweight clash between two of the league’s top teams lived up to its billing as Oklahoma City’s youthful line-up went toe-to-toe with the Celtics.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s points haul came from 14-of-22 shooting, with the talented point guard adding eight rebounds and six assists on a night when five Thunder players finished in double figures at Oklahoma City’s Paycom Centre.

Australia’s Josh Giddey added 23 points while Jalen Williams scored 16 and Chet Holmgren, 14. Isaiah Joe chipped in with 10 off the bench as the Thunder improved to 23-9, behind the Timberwolves (24-8).

Oklahoma City appeared to be cruising to victory, opening up an 18-point lead midway through the fourth quarter.

Boston, however, rallied bravely to cut the lead to just two points to set up a nervy finish.

Gilgeous-Alexander and Giddey steadied the ship for the home team down the stretch, bagging clutch free throws in the dying seconds to give their team the win.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault was satisfied with the victory but admitted his team had been “sloppy” after allowing Boston back in the game in the closing stages of the fourth quarter.

“I thought we were pretty resilient tonight. But they kept coming, they’re a talented team,” he said.

“I thought we got a little sloppy at both ends of the court trying to slam the door on the game, but then we made big plays down the stretch and executed with poise.”

Kristaps Porzingis led Boston’s scorers with 34 points while Jayson Tatum had another big game with 30 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists.

Boston remain at the top of the East with a 26-7 record despite the loss, ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks (24-9).

“I thought it was two great teams,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said.

“The game went about how I thought it would go as far as it coming down to the last couple of possessions.”

In other games on Jan 2, Joel Embiid made a successful return from a four-game absence with a triple-double as the Philadelphia 76ers (23-10) maintained their pursuit of Boston with a 110-97 win over the Chicago Bulls.

Embiid’s second triple-double of the season comprised 31 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, and came after he had missed several games

with an ankle injury.

“I wasn’t able to put weight on my foot a few days ago,” he said.

“That’s why I felt so tired. I was out of shape. Over the next couple of days, I’ve got to get back to get on the floor and try to get back to myself.”

Elsewhere, Ja Morant scored 26 points and Desmond Bane added 24 as the Memphis Grizzlies downed the San Antonio Spurs 106-98. French No. 1 draft pick Victor Wembanyama led San Antonio’s scorers with 20 points, while Keldon Johnson added 19 from the bench.

In New Orleans, the Pelicans cruised past the Brooklyn Nets 112-85, leading from start to finish to extend their win streak to three games. AFP