BOSTON — Jaylen Brown amassed 14 of his 31 points during a crucial third period, as the Boston Celtics orchestrated a comeback to triumph over the Oklahoma City Thunder 119-109 on Wednesday evening, bringing an end to the reigning champions’ 12-game winning sequence.
Jayson Tatum rebounded after two successive challenging displays to net 19 points and 12 rebounds, additionally providing seven assists, as Boston achieved an even record in the pair of regular-season encounters pitting the last two NBA titleholders against each other.
Brown also secured eight rebounds and eight assists, with his impactful quarter enabling the Celtics to seize an 88-83 advantage heading into the fourth frame. Boston’s lead subsequently extended to a maximum of 14 points in the ultimate period.
Oklahoma City narrowed the deficit to six points with 1:30 left on the clock, however, a driving shot from Brown and a pair of foul shots from Derrick White assisted Boston in finalizing Oklahoma City’s initial defeat since Feb. 25.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander spearheaded the Thunder’s offense with 33 points and eight assists. This marked his seventh consecutive game scoring 30 points or more facing Boston, representing the most extended run against the Celtics since LeBron James posted 9 consecutive from 2004 to 2008. Nevertheless, Oklahoma City was bested by the Celtics 19-2 in offensive rebound points and converted merely 12 of 37 attempts from beyond the arc.
Lu Dort contributed 14 points. Jalen Williams registered seven points in his second game back subsequent to a 16-game layoff due to a hamstring ailment.
The Thunder clinched a narrow two-point triumph in the initial encounter featuring the squads two weeks prior in Oklahoma City. However, that contest was played with each side lacking integral members.
The Celtics missed the services of both Tatum, who was still recovering from Achilles tendon rehabilitation, White (contused right knee), and Nikola Vucevic (finger). Meanwhile, Oklahoma City was missing Williams (right hamstring strain) and Isaiah Hartenstein (contused left calf).
Although Vucevic remained sidelined on Wednesday, the other four players were present on the court for the return bout, an uncommon end-of-season encounter featuring top-tier NBA squads with adjustments still needed prior to the playoffs. The Thunder came into the game leading the Western Conference and possessing the league’s premier standing, while the Celtics arrived showcasing the East’s second-highest record.
This signified the Celtics’ initial victory over an opponent with a 40-plus game winning differential above .500, dating back to March 8, 2017, against the Golden State Warriors.
The Thunder commenced rapidly and held an 11-point advantage entering the second frame before the Celtics unleashed a 29-15 scoring run to seize their initial advantage of the evening, 49-46.
Data provided by ESPN Research and The Associated Press informed this report.