Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (right) shoots in front of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Sunday, January 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP photo/Nate billings)
OKLAHOMA CITY— The Celtics had a terrific first half, but facing the NBA’s hottest team was no easy task after that. The Celtics were overwhelmed in the second half and fell 105-92 to the Thunder on Sunday at Paycom Center. The Celtics fell to 26-10, while the Thunder advanced to 30-5 with their 15th consecutive win.
Sunday’s mission was clear to both teams; the intensity and environment lived up to expectations from the start. The shot-making was on point in an intriguing game between the reigning champions and the strongest team in the West.
While the first quarter was back-and-forth, the Celtics pulled away in the second quarter, taking a 10-point advantage at halftime. The Celtics were the better team early, relying on their double-big lineup for a physical advantage.
However, the C’s attack struggled against the league’s finest defense. The Celtics scored just 15 points in the third quarter, going 1-for-13 on three-pointers. The Thunder weren’t setting the world on fire, either, but their strong defense allowed them to get back into the game. Then they cruised to victory in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Celtics 29-12.
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 26 points and 10 rebounds, while Jaylen Brown scored 21 points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, an MVP candidate, ended with 33 points and 11 rebounds for the Thunder.
The Celtics will continue their four-game road trip against the Nuggets at 10 p.m. Tuesday in Denver. Here are four takeaways from Boston’s loss to Oklahoma City.
Second-half collapse: The Celtics were an efficient machine in the first half against the league’s finest defense. However, they were on their heels in the second half. The Celtics went 3-for-24 on 3-pointers in the second half, as their shots failed them. Not only did this allow the Thunder to regain control of the game, but the Celtics were unable to respond against the Oklahoma City defense. Overall, the Thunder outscored the Celtics 50–27 in the second half. Both teams performed dramatically differently in the second half than in the first. While the C’s had a good process early on, it changed in the last two quarters.
Matchup of magnitude: There was no need to hype Sunday’s game. It was a clash between the West’s best and the reigning NBA champions. Of course, fans were going to hype it as a potential NBA Finals game. Both teams competed as if it were a playoff game, with loose balls having to be earned amid a furious scramble of people. The Thunder, looking to create their own impact in the league, emerged victorious Sunday.
Finally healthy: Sunday marked the first time the Celtics had all of their top-8 rotation players available since a win over the Bulls on November 29. That was seventeen games ago. Even so, Kristaps Porzingis was only in his second game back from surgery rehab, so he wasn’t fully recovered. So, the Celtics performed well in the first half. However, their troubles in the second half were not unimportant.
The Celtics’ road journey continues: and they must pick themselves up after Sunday’s heartbreaking loss. They’re already 2-1 on this challenging four-game road trip, with the 2023 NBA champions next up. The Thunder have been one of the league’s finest teams so far this season, so a loss isn’t necessarily concerning. However, the C’s struggled in the second half.
