Oklahoma City Thunder Outlast Boston Celtics in Potential NBA Finals Preview

The Thunder's strong defense and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's leadership highlighted a competitive matchup, exposing key vulnerabilities for the Celtics.

The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Boston Celtics 118-112, snapping Boston's five-game winning streak and solidifying their position as a top contender in the Western Conference.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with a dominant performance, including 10-for-11 free throws, while Boston struggled to contain his offensive and defensive impact.
The Celtics attempted a franchise-record 63 three-pointers but converted only 31.7%, with a steep drop-off in the second half contributing to their loss.
Jayson Tatum scored 33 points but criticized his team for costly mistakes, including turnovers and missed opportunities, while stopping short of blaming officiating for the Thunder's 35-20 free throw advantage.
Both teams showed playoff-level intensity, with analysts speculating that a Celtics-Thunder NBA Finals could be the most exciting matchup for fans this year.