Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drive to the basket in opposition to Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) throughout the first half of an NBA basketball sport, Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in Boston. (AP Picture/Charles Krupa)
BOSTON — The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder clinched a spot within the playoffs, they usually did it in opposition to the staff they may face when the NBA postseason reaches its peak.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 and Chet Holmgren added 23 factors and 15 rebounds to guide the Thunder to a 118-112 victory over Boston on Wednesday evening in a much-anticipated potential NBA Finals matchup.
“We’re in March, not June,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault mentioned after the Thunder swept the two-game season collection in opposition to the defending champions. “So we’re centered on March.”
READ: NBA: Thunder draw back from Celtics in conflict of title contenders
The Thunder additionally beat the Celtics in Oklahoma Metropolis on Jan. 5 in a sport that Holmgren missed with an damage.
In the event that they meet once more this season, it must be within the NBA Finals.
“They’ve achieved what we’re attempting to perform, and there’s no higher check than that within the NBA,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “Enjoying in opposition to them is at all times enjoyable, it’s at all times a very good problem, and one thing that we might check ourselves in opposition to. I suppose we handed the check up to now.”
Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder ahead Chet Holmgren (7) celebrates with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, proper, after defeating the Boston Celtics following an NBA basketball sport, Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in Boston. (AP Picture/Charles Krupa)
The Thunder had been the second NBA staff to clinch a playoff berth this season; Cleveland, which is one win higher, earned its spot on Friday. Final 12 months, the Thunder clinched a spot within the postseason on March 31.
“It means we obtained higher than we had been final 12 months. In the end, that’s all you’ll be able to ask for,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “You set the work in, put the time in … we took steps in the best course. We obtained higher and we, I suppose checked a objective off the checklist somewhat bit sooner than final 12 months, and we’ve got much more to do.”
READ: NBA: Thunder high Celtics for franchise-record fifteenth straight win
The Celtics, who rode their 3-point capturing to an unprecedented 18th NBA championship final season, set a franchise file with 63 3-point makes an attempt on Wednesday. It tied probably the most ever for an NBA staff in a regulation sport.
“Each sport’s a check,” mentioned Daigneault, whose staff was coming off a break up in back-to-backs in opposition to 2023 NBA champion Denver. “We will’t select the opponent, however while you play in opposition to elevated groups like this — particularly on the street — it’s an actual alternative to enhance. And so we take these video games severely.
“We wish to see what we’ve got. We wish to see what we are able to study. We received tonight; we are able to study from that. We misplaced the opposite evening; we are able to study from that,” he mentioned. “However, yeah, we’ve got to squeeze all of the juice out of all these video games that we are able to.”
Jayson Tatum scored 33 factors for Boston, together with a 3-point play on the finish of the third quarter that erased the remnants of a 12-point Thunder lead and tied the sport 88-all. The Celtics went 3 for 14 from 3-point vary from there, whereas Gilgeous-Alexander and Cason Wallace scored eight factors apiece within the fourth quarter.
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“Clearly, there’s at all times added juice to the sport taking part in the defending champions. I feel anyone would say that,” Holmgren mentioned. “However on the finish of the day, it’s considered one of 82. Win or lose, we’re going to attempt to study from it, come again subsequent sport and attempt to be higher.”
