The Celtics full their 7 sport house stand as they host the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder in what could also be a Finals preview. That is the second, and remaining, common season sport between these two groups. The Celtics misplaced 105-92 in Oklahoma Metropolis on January 5. The Celtics had been held to only 27 factors within the second half in that sport. They tied the sequence 1-1 final season, with every staff profitable at house. The Celtics are 79-67 general all time in opposition to the Thunder and they’re 40-29 in video games performed in Boston.
The Thunder made a number of key strikes within the off season. The largest transfer might have been signing Isaiah Hartenstein away from the NY Knicks. He has particularly been necessary because of the absence of Chet Holmgren. Additionally they traded Josh Giddey for Alex Caruso. They drafted Nikola Matter, who will miss your entire season with a torn ACL. Additionally they drafted Dillon Jones and Ajay Mitchell, with an eye fixed to the longer term. Lastly, they signed undrafted Alex Ducas to a 2 method contract.
On the commerce deadline, the Thunder made minor strikes and stored their core gamers the identical. Most of their strikes revolved round draft choose administration. They traded money issues to New Orleans for Daniel Theis and a 2nd spherical choose. Theis was then waived by the Thunder. They transformed Ajay Mitchell from a two-way to a regular deal. Lastly, Branden Carlson was signed to a 2 method contract.
The Celtics are 2nd within the East, and are 8 video games behind the primary place Cavaliers who’ve gained their final 15 video games, together with a win over Boston. They’re 5.5 video games forward of third place New York and they’re 10.5 video games forward of 4th place Milwaukee. The Celtics are 23-11 at house and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 15-7 in opposition to Western Convention opponents. The Celtics have gained their final 5 video games.
The Thunder are 1st within the Western Convention. They’re 11 video games forward of second place Denver. They’re 12 video games forward of each the third place Los Angeles Lakers and 4th place Memphis. The Thunder are 24-7 on the street and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 21-1 in opposition to Jap Convention opponents, with their solely loss coming in opposition to Cleveland. They’re coming off a loss to Denver of their final sport after having gained their earlier 7 video games.
The Celtics are enjoying within the remaining sport of a 7 sport house stand. They misplaced the primary sport to the Cleveland Cavaliers after which beat the Denver Nuggets, Portland Trailblazers, 76ers, Lakers and Jazz within the subsequent 5 video games. After this sport in opposition to Oklahoma Metropolis, the Celtics will play at Miami earlier than a house and residential set in opposition to Brooklyn. They then have a 6 sport Western street journey by way of Utah, Portland, Sacramento, Phoenix, San Antonio and Memphis. They play 5 of their final 7 video games at house.
The Thunder are coming off again to again video games at house in opposition to Denver the place they gained the primary sport and misplaced the second. That is the primary sport of a 3 sport street journey that can proceed by way of Detroit and Milwaukee. They are going to return house for two video games in opposition to Philadelphia and Charlotte earlier than enjoying the Clippers and Kings on the street. They then have a 4 sport house stand in opposition to Memphis, Indians, Chicago and Detroit. They’ve 4 of their final 6 video games on the street with each of the house video games in opposition to the Lakers.
After lacking Monday’s sport, Al Horford has been cleared to play on this sport and is anticipated to play. Jaylen Brown has been coping with knee soreness however is listed as possible for this sport. Jayson Tatum missed Monday’s sport on account of proper knee tendinopathy and is listed as questionable for this sport. I’m going to guess that he’ll play. Kristaps Porzingis has missed the final 7 video games on account of a viral sickness and is questionable for this sport as properly.
The Thunder might be lacking a key starter as properly. Jaylen Williams, who’s the Thunder’s second main scorer, left Monday’s sport within the 2nd quarter with a proper hip pressure. He has been dominated out for this sport. Ajay Mitchell has been sidelined since early January after struggling a sprain of his proper large toe and having surgical procedure and he’s out for this sport. Nikola Matter is out for the season after knee surgical procedure. Alex Caruso was a late addition to the damage listing and is questionable with an sickness.
Possible Celtics Starters
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PG: Jrue HolidaySG: Derrick WhiteSF: Jaylen BrownPF: Jayson TatumC: Al Horford
Celtics ReservesPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaLuke KornetBaylor ScheiermanJordan WalshXavier TillmanSam HauserTorrey Craig
2 Method PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonMiles Norris
Accidents/OutDrew Peterson (thigh) questionableKristaps Porzingis (sickness) questionable Jayson Tatum (knee) questionableJaylen Brown (knee) possible
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Thunder Starters
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PG: Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderSG: Cason WallaceSF: Lugentz DortPF: Chet HolmgrenC: Isaiah Hartenstein
Thunder ReservesOusmane DiengIsaiah JoeDillon JonesAaron WigginsJaylin WilliamsKenrich Williams
2 Method PlayersAlex Ducas Adam FlaglerBranden Carlson
Accidents/OutAjay Mitchell (toe) outNikola Matter (knee) out Jalen Williams (hip) out Alex Caruso (sickness) questionable
Head Coach Mark Daigneault
Key Matchups
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Jrue Vacation
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Photograph by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Photos
Jrue Vacation vs Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderGilgeous-Alexander is averaging 32.7 factors, 5.1 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.1 blocks per sport. He’s capturing 52.5% from the sphere and 37.3% from past the arc. Within the first sport in OKC, SGA completed with 33 factors, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and a couple of blocks whereas capturing 47.8% from the sphere and 50% on threes. Gilgeous-Alexander is the favourite within the MVP race and is the important thing to the Thunder’s profitable methods. With the intention to sluggish the Thunder, the Celtics should decelerate SGA.
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Jayson Tatum
Chet Holmgren
Photograph by Bart Younger/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
Jayson Tatum vs Chet HolmgrenHolmgren is averaging 14.6 factors, 8.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and a couple of blocks per sport. He’s capturing 48.8% from the sphere and 33.3% from past the arc. Holmgren can rating each within the paint and on the perimeter and so the Celtics should stick with him on protection whether or not he’s within the paint or on the perimeter. Jayson Tatum has been enjoying very properly just lately and hopefully he’ll be capable of play on this sport and can proceed his sturdy play.
Honorable MentionAl Horford vs Isaiah HartensteinHartenstein is averaging 11.1 factors, 11.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.0 blocks per sport. He’s capturing 59.1% from the sphere and 0% from past the arc. He’s a menace to attain inside and is an excellent rebounder and shot blocker. The Celtics must maintain him out of the paint and away from the rim.
Keys to the GameDefense – Protection is at all times a key to profitable. The Thunder common 119.7 factors per sport (4th) The Celtics common 116.9 factors per sport (seventh). That is going to be a troublesome matchup for the Celtics because the Thunder are first within the league with a defensive score of 106.1 whereas the Celtics are fifth with a defensive score of 110.1. The Celtics must tighten up their protection and make enjoying protection a precedence particularly in opposition to this Thunder staff that performs lock down protection. The Celtics must particularly defend the paint because the Thunder are eighth within the league with 51 factors within the paint per sport. However, additionally they can’t go away them open on the perimeter since they try 39.1 threes per sport and make 36.7% of them as a staff.
Rebound – Rebounding can also be an enormous key to profitable. The Celtics must rebound on the defensive finish to maintain the Thunder from getting second probability factors and they should rebound on the offensive finish to offer themselves additional possessions. The Thunder are thirteenth with 44.7 rebounds per sport whereas the Celtics are tenth with 45.0 rebounds per sport. The Celtics are 29-5 once they out-rebound opponents and they’re 18-13 when they’re out-rebounded. A lot of rebounding is need and energy and the Celtics as a staff should put within the additional effort to seize rebounds.
Take Care of the Ball – The Celtics must maintain their focus and never flip the ball over. The Thunder are 1st within the league with 22.1 factors off turnovers per sport. They’re additionally 1st with 10.7 steals per sport. The Celtics have to maneuver the ball as a result of they’re a a lot better staff once they transfer the ball and don’t over dribble. However they have to focus and make cautious passes and never get sloppy. Additionally they should bear in mind when dribbling the ball in order to not enable the Thunder to get steals. The Thunder will make them pay in the event that they get sloppy and switch the ball over.
Be Targeted and Prepared for a Powerful Recreation – The Thunder have misplaced only one sport to an Jap Convention staff this season. They’ve additionally solely misplaced 12 video games. The Celtics should be able to go to the basket in the event that they battle from three. Additionally they should be able to shoot from midrange if each the paint and the perimeter are defended tightly. The Celtics should keep centered on enjoying arduous for 48 minutes and on enjoying robust protection and on enjoying the suitable method.
X-Elements At House vs Highway Fatigue – The Celtics are at house and they need to get motivation from enjoying in entrance of their followers. The Celtics have been at house for the previous 6 video games and must be refreshed from the lengthy house stand. The Thunder are on the street and are enjoying within the third sport in 4 nights and so fatigue could also be an element for them down the stretch.
Officiating – Officiating is at all times an x-factor. How the refs name the sport has an enormous affect on how the groups play. Will they allow them to play or name each little little bit of contact? Will they name it evenly or will they favor one staff or the opposite. All of it results the end result of the sport and the Celtics must play the suitable method and never enable the officiating to take them out of their sport. Additionally, they need to by no means be caught complaining to the refs whereas the opposite staff goes in for a rating.
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