BOSTON (AP) — Oklahoma Metropolis coach Mark Daigneault likened the Celtics’ efficiency this season to that of a Ferrari.
Boston’s newest victory over the Thunder earned it one more luxurious with the playoffs quick approaching.
Kristaps Porzingis had 27 factors, 12 rebounds and 5 blocks, serving to the Celtics energy previous the Thunder 135-100 on Wednesday night time to safe the very best file within the NBA and home-court benefit all through the playoffs.
Jayson Tatum completed with 24 factors and Jaylen Brown added 23 factors and 7 rebounds for Boston, which gained its eleventh consecutive dwelling sport and improved to 60-16 on the season.
“We deserve it. I feel it is probably going to matter if we observe by with the imaginative and prescient we’ve for ourselves,” Porzingis stated.
Brown likes the development the group has been making because the common season winds down.
“We’re not skipping any steps,” Brown stated. “Sixty wins. I feel we’re on monitor. When the playoffs begin, it is again to sq. one.”
Boston coach Joe Mazzulla stated the milestone is one other achievement his group will not take as a right. However he additionally stated it is not one thing he desires them to dwell on.
“It’s totally onerous to do. We might by no means be on this place once more,” Mazzulla stated. “We talked about it as a group. We talked about it earlier than the sport, to attempt to deal with this sport because the clincher. To type of put that on ourselves to have the ability to try this. I feel it was essential for us to simulate that. … We should always get pleasure from it tonight, and when get up tomorrow – no person cares.”
Brown was questionable heading into the sport with a sprained left hand. He stated he acquired it examined after Boston’s win at Charlotte on Monday and described it as a sprained ligament.
“I feel it’s tremendous. It’s one thing I’m not involved with shifting ahead,” he stated. “However it bothered me a bit bit tonight.”
The Celtics trailed for less than 62 seconds within the sport.
Boston led by as many as 16 within the first half earlier than Oklahoma Metropolis reduce it to 6 factors within the third quarter. Main by 10 after three, the Celtics opened the fourth with a 12-4 run to stretch their result in 105-87.
Josh Giddey led Oklahoma Metropolis with 17 factors. Luguentz Dort added 15 factors. The Thunder completed with 14 turnovers and have been simply 5 of 24 from past the arc.
OKC performed with out All-Star and main scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who sat for the fourth time in 5 video games with a bruised proper quadriceps. Jalen Williams missed his second straight with a sprained left ankle.
Daigneault stated previous to the sport that the largest problem Porzingis has offered this season with the Celtics is his capability to be each a rim protector and ground spacer on a roster filled with shooters.
The 7-footer did each within the first half, getting 17 factors, 9 rebounds and three blocks in quarter-hour.
Porzingis additionally punctuated one of many Celtics’ greatest offensive sequences. Payton Pritchard dribbled into the paint, was stopped beneath the basket and threw the ball out to Sam Hauser within the nook. Hauser rapidly swung it to Brown as he crossed half courtroom. Brown then drove and flipped a no-look, behind-the-head go to Porzingis on the wing for his third 3 of the sport.
The basket gave Boston a 50-34 lead, its largest of the half. The Celtics took a 61-47 benefit into halftime. It marked the fiftieth time this season they’ve scored 60 or extra factors within the opening half, tying the franchise file that was set final season.
