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In a matchup of first within the East vs First within the West, the Celtics host the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder for the 2nd and closing sport this season. The Thunder received the primary sport 127-123 in OKC on January 2. These 2 groups cut up the sequence 1-1 final season with every workforce profitable at dwelling. The Celtics are 78-66 total all time in opposition to the Thunder and they’re 39-27 in video games performed in Boston. The Thunder are enjoying within the second of again to again video games. They’re 7-5 on the second evening of again to again video games and they’re 1-2 when the video games are each on the highway.
The Celtics stay 1st within the East, 12 video games forward of 2nd place Milwaukee, 13.5 video games forward of third place Cleveland, 15 video games forward of 4th place Orlando, 15 video games forward of fifth place New York, and 16.5 video games forward of sixth place Indiana. They’re 32-3 at dwelling and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 20-7 in opposition to Western Convention groups and have received their final 2 video games.
The Thunder began Tuesday 1st within the West however ended the evening at third. They’re half a sport behind of 1st place Denver and 2nd place Minnesota. They’re 5 video games forward of the 4th place Clippers, 7 video games forward of fifth place Dallas and seven video games forward of sixth place New Orleans. They’re 23-14 on the highway and 7-3 of their final 10 video games. They’re 19-6 in opposition to Jap Convention groups and they’re coming off a loss of their final sport.
The Celtics are enjoying within the first sport again dwelling after a 6 sport highway journey. They went 4-2 on the journey, beating Detroit, Chicago, New Orleans and Charlotte and dropping 2 video games to Atlanta. After this sport they’ll keep at dwelling for two video games in opposition to Sacramento, and Portland. Then it’s one sport on the highway in Milwaukee earlier than ending the season at dwelling in opposition to New York, Charlotte and Washington.
The Thunder are enjoying within the third sport of a 5 sport highway journey. They beat New York and misplaced to Philadelphia of their first two video games of the highway journey. The loss to the 76ers was with out their 2 prime scorers. After this sport they’ll proceed the highway journey by way of Indiana and Chicago. They may then end the season with a 4 sport dwelling stand with the primary 2 video games in opposition to Sacramento after which Milwaukee and Dallas.
Jaylen Brown sat out Monday’s sport after injuring his hand within the sport in opposition to New Orleans. Jaden Springer missed that sport with a knee damage and JD Davison missed the sport with an ankle damage. As of now, solely 2 Celtics are on the damage report. Jaylen Brown is questionable with a left hand sprain and Jaden Springer is questionable with left knee tendinopathy. Each are anticipated to be a sport time choice however I anticipate them to play if in any respect attainable.
For the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed his third contest out of the Thunder’s final 4 video games when he sat out Tuesday’s sport at Philadelphia on account of a proper quad bruise. Jalen Williams additionally sat out Tuesday in Philadelphia with a left ankle sprain. Each have been dominated out for this sport. Aaron Wiggins and Jaylin Williams began Tuesday’s sport vs Philadelphia and can possible begin as soon as once more.
Possible Celtics Starters
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PG: Jrue HolidaySG: Derrick WhiteSF: Jaylen BrownPF: Jayson TatumC: Kristaps Porzingis
Celtics ReservesOshae BrissettSam HauserAl HorfordSvi MykhailiukPayton PritchardJordan WalshLuke Kornet Xavier TillmanJaden Springer
2 Means PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonNeemias Queta
Accidents/OutJaden Springer (knee) questionableJaylen Brown (hand) questionable
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Thunder Starters
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PG: Aaron WilliamsSG: Josh GiddeySF: Lugentz DortPF: Jaylin WilliamsC: Chet Holmgren
Thunder ReservesBismack BiyomboOusmane DiengGordon HaywardIsaiah Joe Mike MuscalaCason Wallace Lindy Waters IIIKenrich Williams
2 Means Gamers Keyontae Johnson Olivier SarrLindy Waters III
Out/Accidents Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (quad) outJaylen Williams (ankle) out
Head Coach Mark Daigneault
Key Matchups
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Derrick White
Photograph by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Photographs
Josh Giddey
Photograph by Justin Ford/Getty Photographs
Derrick White vs Josh GiddeyGiddey is averaging 12.2 factors, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. He’s capturing 47.6% from the sector and 34.4% from past the arc. Towards the Celtics within the first sport, Giddey completed with 23 factors, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. He shot 57.1% from the sector and 57.1% from past the arc.
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Kristaps Porzingis
Photograph by Brian Fluharty/Getty Photographs
Chet Holmgren
Photograph by Bart Younger/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
Kristaps Porzingis vs Chet HolmgrenPorzingis will likely be matched up with 7’1” Chet Holmgren. Holmgren is averaging 16.6 factors, 7.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and a couple of.4 blocks per sport. He’s capturing 53.3% from the sector and 37.3% from past the arc. He’s a tough cowl however this additionally must be a enjoyable matchup to look at.
Honorable MentionJaylen Brown vs Lugentz Dort Dort is averaging 10.6 factors, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. He’s capturing 47.6% from the sector and 39.8% from past the arc. Within the first sport in opposition to the Celtics he completed with 9 factors, 8 rebounds, 1 help, 3 blocks and 1 steal. In Tuesday’s sport in opposition to the 76ers, he completed with 15 factors, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks and a couple of steals whereas capturing 50% from the sector and 50% from past the arc.
Keys to the Sport Protection – Protection is at all times the important thing to profitable. The Thunder common 120.4 factors per sport (third) and they’re 4th with a defensive score of 111.5. The Celtics common 120.9 factors per sport (2nd) and they’re third with a defensive score of 110.7. The Celtics have to tighten up their protection and make enjoying protection a precedence particularly in opposition to this Thunder workforce that averages 120.4 factors and have a defensive score proper behind the Celtics. The Celtics have to defend the paint because the Thunder are seventh within the league with 52.5 factors within the paint per sport. However in addition they should defend on the perimeter as a result of the Thunder are first within the league, capturing 39.1% from past the arc.
Rebound – Rebounding can also be a key to profitable. The Celtics have to rebound on the defensive finish to maintain the Thunder from getting second probability factors and they should rebound on the offensive finish to provide themselves further possessions. The Thunder are twenty seventh with 41.9 rebounds per sport whereas the Celtics are 2nd with 46.5 rebounds per sport. A lot of rebounding is need and energy and the Celtics as a workforce must put within the further effort to beat the Thunder on the boards.
Take Care of the Ball – The Celtics have to maintain their focus and never flip the ball over. The Thunder are 1st within the league with 20.3 factors off turnovers per sport. The Celtics have to maneuver the ball as a result of they’re a significantly better workforce once they transfer the ball and don’t over dribble. However they have to keep centered and make cautious passes and never get sloppy. Additionally they must 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 Targeted and Prepared for a Robust Sport – The Thunder are on the prime of a tricky Western Convention and are a really robust workforce defensively. The Celtics must be able to go to the basket in the event that they battle from three. Additionally they must 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, on enjoying robust protection, on combating for rebounds, and on enjoying the proper approach.
Don’t Underestimate – I nearly felt higher once I thought that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams have been enjoying. The Celtics have a approach of enjoying down to groups lacking their stars, as they did in opposition to the Lakers with out LeBron and AD. The Celtics can’t underestimate the Thunder as a result of they’re totally able to beating the Celtics with out SGA and J Dub. They’re a younger and hungry workforce and if the Celtics take them evenly, they’ll make them pay for it.
X-Components At Dwelling vs Again to Again – The Celtics are at dwelling and they need to get motivation from enjoying in entrance of their followers. It’s the first sport again after an extended highway journey and typically that sport is hard. The Celtics have had a time without work after enjoying in Charlotte on Monday. The Thunder are enjoying again to again on the highway and so fatigue could also be an element for them down the stretch. The Thunder are 1-2 when their again to again video games are each on the highway and so the Celtics have to defend their dwelling court docket and draw vitality from their followers.
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 workforce or the opposite. All of it results the end result of the sport and the Celtics have to play the proper approach and never permit the officiating to take them out of their sport. The refs have been fast to name techs for complaining this season and the Celtics have to do not forget that. Additionally, they need to by no means be caught complaining to the refs whereas the opposite workforce goes in for a rating.
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