Boston won its eleventh straight home game and moved to 60-16 on the season thanks to 24-point performance by Jayson Tatum and 23 points and seven boards from Jaylen Brown.

Only 62 seconds elapsed before the Celtics fell behind.

During the first half, Boston had a 16-point lead. In the third quarter, Oklahoma City was able to narrow the lead to six points. The Celtics opened the fourth quarter on a 12-4 surge, increasing their lead to 105-87, after leading by 10 points after three quarters.

Josh Giddey scored 17 points to lead Oklahoma City. Plus, 15 points from Luguentz Dort. The Thunder committed 14 turnovers and made only 5% of their field goal attempts from outside the arc.

 

Oklahoma City did not have All-Star and top scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the court since he has missed four games in a row due to a strained right quadriceps. Due to a strained left ankle, Jalen Williams was unable to play for the second consecutive game.Coach Mark Daigneault of the Thunder stated before the game that Porzingis’s versatility as a rim protector and floor spacer on a shooting-heavy Celtics team has been the team’s greatest obstacle this season.

With 17 points, nine boards, and three blocks in just fifteen minutes, the 7-footer accomplished both in the first half.

оne оf the Celtics’ mоst effective оffensive sequences was capped оff by Pоrzingis as well. After getting stоpped under the hооp, Paytоn Pritchard tоssed the ball tо Sam Hauser in the cоrner after dribbling intо the paint. As sооn as he crоssed half cоurt, Hauser whipped it tо Brоwn. Fоr his third 3-pоinter оf the game, Brоwn drоve the lane and sent a behind-the-head pass tо Pоrzingis оn the wing withоut lооking.

With the score, Boston extended their halftime advantage to 50-34. Going into halftime, the Celtics had a lead of 61–47. They equaled last season’s franchise record with 60 points in the first half, making it 50 for the season.