The Celtics full their 7 recreation dwelling stand as they host the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder in what could also be a Finals preview. That is the second, and remaining, common season recreation between these two groups. The Celtics misplaced 105-92 in Oklahoma Metropolis on January 5. The Celtics have been held to only 27 factors within the second half in that recreation. They tied the collection 1-1 final season, with every crew successful at dwelling. The Celtics are 79-67 general all time towards 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 most important transfer could have been signing Isaiah Hartenstein away from the NY Knicks. He has particularly been necessary as a result of 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 a watch to the long run. Lastly, they signed undrafted Alex Ducas to a 2 method contract.
On the commerce deadline, the Thunder made minor strikes and saved their core gamers the identical. Most of their strikes revolved round draft decide administration. They traded money issues to New Orleans for Daniel Theis and a 2nd spherical decide. Theis was then waived by the Thunder. They transformed Ajay Mitchell from a two-way to an ordinary 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 dwelling and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 15-7 towards 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 towards Japanese Convention opponents, with their solely loss coming towards Cleveland. They’re coming off a loss to Denver of their final recreation after having gained their earlier 7 video games.
The Celtics are taking part in within the remaining recreation of a 7 recreation dwelling stand. They misplaced the primary recreation to the Cleveland Cavaliers after which beat the Denver Nuggets, Portland Trailblazers, 76ers, Lakers and Jazz within the subsequent 5 video games. After this recreation towards Oklahoma Metropolis, the Celtics will play at Miami earlier than a house and residential set towards Brooklyn. They then have a 6 recreation Western street journey by way of Utah, Portland, Sacramento, Phoenix, San Antonio and Memphis. They play 5 of their final 7 video games at dwelling.
The Thunder are coming off again to again video games at dwelling towards Denver the place they gained the primary recreation and misplaced the second. That is the primary recreation of a 3 recreation street journey that can proceed by way of Detroit and Milwaukee. They may return dwelling for two video games towards Philadelphia and Charlotte earlier than taking part in the Clippers and Kings on the street. They then have a 4 recreation dwelling stand towards Memphis, Indians, Chicago and Detroit. They’ve 4 of their final 6 video games on the street with each of the house video games towards the Lakers.
After lacking Monday’s recreation, Al Horford has been cleared to play on this recreation and is predicted to play. Jaylen Brown has been coping with knee soreness however is listed as possible for this recreation. Jayson Tatum missed Monday’s recreation resulting from proper knee tendinopathy and is listed as questionable for this recreation. I’m going to guess that he’ll play. Kristaps Porzingis has missed the final 7 video games resulting from a viral sickness and is questionable for this recreation as nicely.
The Thunder can be lacking a key starter as nicely. Jaylen Williams, who’s the Thunder’s second main scorer, left Monday’s recreation within the 2nd quarter with a proper hip pressure. He has been dominated out for this recreation. Ajay Mitchell has been sidelined since early January after struggling a sprain of his proper huge toe and having surgical procedure and he’s out for this recreation. Nikola Matter is out for the season after knee surgical procedure. Alex Caruso was a late addition to the harm record and is questionable with an sickness.
Possible Celtics Starters
Grid View
PG: Jrue HolidaySG: Derrick WhiteSF: Jaylen BrownPF: Jayson TatumC: Al Horford
Celtics ReservesPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaLuke KornetBaylor ScheiermanJordan WalshXavier TillmanSam HauserTorrey Craig
2 Means 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
Grid View
PG: Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderSG: Cason WallaceSF: Lugentz DortPF: Chet HolmgrenC: Isaiah Hartenstein
Thunder ReservesOusmane DiengIsaiah JoeDillon JonesAaron WigginsJaylin WilliamsKenrich Williams
2 Means 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 Photographs
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 recreation. He’s capturing 52.5% from the sector and 37.3% from past the arc. Within the first recreation in OKC, SGA completed with 33 factors, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and a couple of blocks whereas capturing 47.8% from the sector and 50% on threes. Gilgeous-Alexander is the favourite within the MVP race and is the important thing to the Thunder’s successful methods. With a view to gradual the Thunder, the Celtics should decelerate SGA.
Grid View
Jayson Tatum
Chet Holmgren
Photograph by Bart Younger/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
Jayson Tatum vs Chet HolmgrenHolmgren is averaging 14.6 factors, 8.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and a couple of blocks per recreation. He’s capturing 48.8% from the sector 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 taking part in very nicely not too long ago and hopefully he’ll be capable to play on this recreation and can proceed his robust play.
Honorable MentionAl Horford vs Isaiah HartensteinHartenstein is averaging 11.1 factors, 11.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.0 blocks per recreation. He’s capturing 59.1% from the sector 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 all the time a key to successful. The Thunder common 119.7 factors per recreation (4th) The Celtics common 116.9 factors per recreation (seventh). That is going to be a troublesome matchup for the Celtics because the Thunder are first within the league with a defensive ranking of 106.1 whereas the Celtics are fifth with a defensive ranking of 110.1. The Celtics must tighten up their protection and make taking part in protection a precedence particularly towards this Thunder crew 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 recreation. However, additionally they can’t depart them open on the perimeter since they try 39.1 threes per recreation and make 36.7% of them as a crew.
Rebound – Rebounding can also be an enormous key to successful. 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 present themselves additional possessions. The Thunder are thirteenth with 44.7 rebounds per recreation whereas the Celtics are tenth with 45.0 rebounds per recreation. The Celtics are 29-5 after they out-rebound opponents and they’re 18-13 when they’re out-rebounded. A lot of rebounding is want and energy and the Celtics as a crew 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 recreation. They’re additionally 1st with 10.7 steals per recreation. The Celtics have to maneuver the ball as a result of they’re a a lot better crew after they transfer the ball and don’t over dribble. However they need to focus and make cautious passes and never get sloppy. Additionally they should remember when dribbling the ball in order to not permit the Thunder to get steals. The Thunder will make them pay in the event that they get sloppy and switch the ball over.
Be Centered and Prepared for a Powerful Recreation – The Thunder have misplaced only one recreation to an Japanese Convention crew 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 targeted on taking part in laborious for 48 minutes and on taking part in robust protection and on taking part in the precise method.
X-Components At Residence vs Street Fatigue – The Celtics are at dwelling and they need to get motivation from taking part in in entrance of their followers. The Celtics have been at dwelling for the previous 6 video games and needs to be refreshed from the lengthy dwelling stand. The Thunder are on the street and are taking part in within the third recreation in 4 nights and so fatigue could also be an element for them down the stretch.
Officiating – Officiating is all the time 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 crew or the opposite. All of it results the result of the sport and the Celtics must play the precise method and never permit the officiating to take them out of their recreation. Additionally, they need to by no means be caught complaining to the refs whereas the opposite crew goes in for a rating.
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