It should come as no surprise that, as 2024 rolled around, the Boston Celtics had the best record in the NBA.
With a current record of 26-6, the Celtics are well-positioned to challenge for a championship this season.
However, the Oklahoma City Thunder, who were only two seasons ago 34 games below.500 and are currently in the midst of a rebuild, have also unexpectedly become a contender in the Western Conference.
Two winning streaks are at stake in Tuesday’s match between host Oklahoma City and Boston, two teams that are considered elites.
In Tuesday’s match between host Oklahoma City and Boston, two formidable teams will square off, with two winning streaks at stake.
This is the fourth winning run of five or more games the Celtics have had this season. They have won six straight games. Additionally, Boston has won 11 of the last 12.
“I believe the composition of our team, especially with the addition of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, makes things easier,” stated Jaylen Brown, a star player for the Boston Celtics. That’s great news for us players—I believe we’ve gotten better.
“First and foremost, I think the front office deserves praise for assembling a cohesive team, and secondly, I think the coaching staff deserves praise for making sure we understand the game and know where we’re supposed to be at all times. I believe that this year’s coaching has been outstanding in ensuring that we play the game the proper way.
Boston has benefited from the addition of Holiday, who averages 13.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game, and Porzingis, who averages 20.0 points and 7.2 rebounds, as well as from guard Derrick White’s ongoing ascent to prominence.
White is shooting 49.1 percent from the field, averaging 17.0 points and 5.3 assists, all of which are career highs.
With a right elbow sprain, Holiday missed Sunday’s 134-101 victory against San Antonio. The Celtics are hoping to have him back.
With a right elbow sprain, Holiday missed Sunday’s 134-101 victory against San Antonio. The Celtics are hoping to have him back.
The Thunder come into Tuesday’s matchup with the second-fewest losses in the conference, having won seven of their last eight games and four straight. This season, Oklahoma City is 22-9.
Josh Giddey, a third-year guard, has had difficulty playing for Oklahoma City, despite the team’s core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren playing well throughout the season.
Giddey, though, is coming off of two impressive games in which he combined for 32 points on 14 of 26 shooting, 14 rebounds, and 9 assists in victories over the Brooklyn Nets and Denver Nuggets.
Giddey is performing exactly as I had anticipated,” Gilgeous-Alexander remarked. “Every young player gets different looks and has to adjust, especially in the beginning of their careers, as I have stated previously. I’ve had to experience it. Josh took the right course of action by learning from it, improving, and going after it.
The Thunder, who average 20.3 points off turnovers on average—1.5 more than any other team in the league—have been the NBA’s best at capitalizing on opponents’ errors.
Teams are scoring just 14.5 points per game off turnovers against the Celtics, which is tied for the second-lowest average in the league.
Oklahoma City only forced seven turnovers in their 124-108 victory over Brooklyn on Sunday, and they only resulted in four points.
The first of the two games between the teams this season is on Tuesday.
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