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Tomorrow night, the NBA world gets a potential Finals preview as the Oklahoma City Thunder visit the Boston Celtics in a marquee matchup. Both teams have been among the best in their respective conferences, with the Thunder sitting atop the West and the Celtics trailing only the Cavaliers in the East.
With star power on full display, this clash at TD Garden promises to be a must-watch basketball contest.
The Thunder have been on a tear this season, leading the Western Conference with a 53-12 record. Before Monday night’s 140-127 loss to the Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City had won five straight and 16 of their last 19 games. Their offense has been humming, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaging 32.9 points and 6.2 assists per game.
Monday’s loss to the Nuggets saw Nikola Jokić dominate with 35 points and 18 rebounds, exposing a rare defensive lapse for the Thunder. Their previous high for points allowed this season was 131, and giving up 140 to Denver is more of an anomaly than something to be concerned about. Also, the Thunder’s offensive depth remains impressive, as six players scored in double figures against the Nuggets, including Isaiah Hartenstein and Luguentz Dort, who each posted 20+ points.
Chet Holmgren’s presence continues to be a major factor for OKC. Since his return from injury in early November, the team has gone 8-2, and his ability to stretch the floor while protecting the rim makes him an invaluable piece in this matchup.
The Celtics, meanwhile, are rolling through one of the easiest stretches of their season. They picked up their 47th win on Monday, defeating the Utah Jazz 114-108. Despite missing Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porziņģis and Al Horford, Boston secured the win behind Sam Hauser’s red-hot shooting (33 points and 9 three-pointers) and a strong all-around performance from Derrick White, who finished with 28 points and 10 rebounds.
With their stars set to return for Wednesday’s game, the Celtics will be back at full strength. Tatum, in particular, should be well-rested, and when he has at least three days off, he averages an impressive 30.9 points, 10.4 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. On the season, he leads Boston with 27.2 points, 8.9 rebounds and 5.8 assists per contest.
The Celtics have been dominant at home and enter this game on a 5-0 run in March. Their ability to generate high-volume three-point attempts makes them particularly dangerous, especially against a Thunder defense that, while elite in defending efficiency, still allows a significant number of perimeter shots.
This is the second meeting between these two teams this season. The Thunder took the first matchup in Oklahoma City on January 5, winning 105-92 despite trailing by 10 at halftime. Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 33 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists, while Aaron Wiggins provided a key scoring punch off the bench with 15 points. Boston, on the other hand, struggled mightily from beyond the arc, shooting just 19.6% (9-for-46) from three-point range.
Expect a much different shooting performance from the Celtics at home. They lead the NBA in three-point attempts per game and rank in the top 10 in three-point percentage (37.1%). The Thunder, meanwhile, are excellent at limiting opponents’ three-point efficiency (33.6%), but they do allow a high number of attempts. If Boston can improve on their first matchup’s shooting struggles, they’ll have a significant edge.
Both teams excel at limiting transition opportunities, protecting the rim and keeping turnovers low, meaning this game could once again come down to three-point shooting. Given the Celtics’ home-court advantage and ability to make adjustments, they should have the upper hand.
With Tatum coming off extra rest and back in the lineup, he should be the focal point of Boston’s offense. Given his recent numbers with extended rest and the Celtics’ emphasis on perimeter play, expect him to lead the charge in what should be a highly competitive game.
Following this matchup, the Thunder will continue their challenging week with games against the Pistons and Bucks, while the Celtics will hit the road for games in Miami and Brooklyn.
Zach has been a published sports writer since 2018 specializing in college football & basketball, MLB and NFL content for multiple publications.