By Michael Kinney
OKLAHOMA CITY– Most observers thought it would take another year or two. By that time the core of the Oklahoma City Thunder would have played more than 200 games together and have a good sense of what they can do and the rest of the NBA.
However, as 2024 starts, it has quickly been shown that this group of Thunder is not on anyone else’s timetable. With their 127-123 win Tuesday night, they can now add the East-leading Boston Celtics to the growing list of title-contending teams that have been slayed by Oklahoma City.
That group already consists of the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Golden State Warriors, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Philadelphia 76ers and the defending NBA champions Denver Nuggets.
According to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 36 points against the Celtics (26-7), it’s all about the type of players the Thunder put on the court each night.
“We have a bunch of high-character guys who want to win,” Gilgeous-Alexander. “We have a winning standard we hold each other to. It goes both ways. At the end of the day, we all just want to win.”
It also helps that Oklahoma City (23-9) has an MVP candidate in Gilgeous-Alexander who is only 25 years old and still a few years away from reaching his prime. Along with his scoring outburst, Tuesday he added 7 assists, six rebounds and committed zero turnovers in 37 minutes of action.
“I work out really hard. When I work out, I work out like the best defender in the world is guarding me,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “So in moments like these, I’m in my comfort zone.”
Gilgeous-Alexander was in such a groove against Boston, that MVP candidate Jayson Tatum said he asked to guard him in the fourth quarter as the team fell down by 18 points.
Tatum and Derrick White were able to help spur the Celtics back into the game as they closed the gap down to two points in the final minutes. But clutch free throws from Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey were enough to hold Boston off and secure the home-court win.
“They did a really good job of just getting out quick and speeding up the game,” said Boston’s Kristaps Porzingis. “Honestly, it’s a little bit hard to answer right now. I would have to rewatch what happened, but from the feeling, it was kind of like they just sped up the game. That’s how I say it. Sped up the game and we didn’t respond the same way. That’s a talented young team and I don’t believe this was some fluke game for them. They’ve been playing really well. They’re top of the West, so really good team to go up against and really good experience for us.”
Porzingis led the Celtics with 34 points on 12 of 18 shooting. Tatum added 30 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists.
Giddey posted a season-high 23 points to go along with eight rebounds and six assists while Jalen Williams chipped in with 16 points. Chet Holmgrem scored 14 points and handed out seven assists.
Oklahoma City didn’t have time to get caught up in how impressive the victory was or their current run. They had to jump on a plane right after the game and head to Atlanta for the second night of a back-to-back.
But according to Thunder coach Mark Daigneault, that doesn’t seem to be something he is worried about with this group.
“They have an uncommon ability to block out the noise,” Daigneault said.
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