Boston Celtics (43-21) at Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (51-15)Thursday, March 12, 20269:30 PM ETGame #66, Street Sport #35TV: Prime VideoRadio: 98.5 Sports activities Hub, WWLS/WKY, Sirius XMPaycom Heart
The Celtics full their 3 recreation highway journey with a cease in Oklahoma Metropolis to tackle the Thunder. The Celtics received the primary recreation in Cleveland on Sunday after which misplaced to the Spurs on Tuesday night time. The Thunder haven’t performed since Monday. That is the primary of two conferences between these 2 groups this season. They are going to meet for the ultimate time in Boston on March 25. The Celtics are 47-59 in opposition to the Thunder total all time and they’re 22-30 in video games performed in Oklahoma Metropolis.
The Thunder received the Championship final season and within the off season, they did little or no to alter their workforce. They made no trades and introduced in no new gamers. They misplaced Dillon Jones who went to the Wizards. They did re-sign Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Jaylin Williams and Ajay Mitchell. On the commerce deadline, They traded picks to Philadelphia for Jared McCain and so they traded Ousmane Dieng to Charlotte for Mason Plumlee, who they waived.
The Celtics are 2nd within the East, 3.5 video games behind 1st place Detroit. They’re 2 video games forward of third place New York , 3.5 video games forward of 4th place Cleveland, 6.5 video games forward of fifth place Orlando and sixth place Miami and seven video games forward of seventh place Toronto. The Celtics are 15-8 in opposition to Western Convention opponents. They’re 22-12 on the highway and 7-3 of their final 10 video games. They’re coming off a loss of their final recreation. (The Knicks, Cavs, and Raptors are enjoying as I write this so which will change.)
The Thunder are 1st within the West, 2.5 video games forward of 2nd place San Antonio, 10 video games forward of third place Houston, 10.5 video games forward of the 4th place Lakers and fifth place Minnesota, 11.5 video games forward of sixth place Denver and 12.5 video games forward of seventh place Phoenix. They’re 15-6 in opposition to Jap Convention opponents. They’re 27-6 at house and 9-1 of their final 10 video games. They’ve received their final 5 video games.
After this recreation at Oklahoma Metropolis the Celtics will head house the place they’ll host Washington, Phoenix and Golden State. Subsequent, it’s one recreation at Memphis earlier than a 3 recreation house stand in opposition to Minnesota, Oklahoma Metropolis and Atlanta. Then it’s again on the highway for a 4 recreation journey by means of Charlotte, Atlanta, Miami and Milwaukee. They are going to then play two video games at house in opposition to Toronto and Charlotte earlier than one recreation on the highway at New York. They are going to end the season with 2 video games at house in opposition to New Orleans and Orlando.
The Celtics could also be shorthanded on this recreation with 4 gamers listed on the harm report presently. The excellent news is that Payton Pritchard has been upgraded to accessible. Jayson Tatum is out for harm administration after enjoying the final 3 video games they could wish to monitor his workload. Derrick White is listed as questionable as a result of a proper knee contusion. Nikola Vucevic is out as a result of surgical procedure on his injured finger. I don’t know who will begin if each Tatum and White are out. I made a wild guess will probably be Sheierman and Harper, Jr.
The Thunder might also be shorthanded for this recreation. Isaiah Hartenstein will miss a 3rd straight recreation as a result of a bruised left calf. Jalen Williams is listed as out as a result of a strained proper hamstring. Thomas Sorber is out for the season with a torn ACL. Brandon Carlson has been dominated out for a seventh straight recreation as a result of a again pressure. As soon as once more, I actually don’t know who will begin for the Thunder however took a guess at it.
Possible Beginning MatchupsPG: Baylor Scheierman vs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SG: Ron Harper, Jr vs Cason Wallace
SF: Jaylen Brown vs Luguentz Dort
PF: Sam Hauser vs Jaylin Williams
C: Neemias Queta vs Chet Holmgren
Celtics ReservesPayton PritchardHugo GonzalezLuka GarzaAmare WilliamsJordan Walsh2-Method PlayersRon Harper, JrMax ShulgaJohn TonjeInjuries/OutNikola Vucevic (finger) outPayton Pritchard (neck) availableJayson Tatum (harm administration) outDerrick White (knee) questionable
Thunder ReservesBranden CarlsonAlex CarusoIsaiah JoeJared McCainAJay MitchellAaron WigginsKenrich Williams
2 Method PlayersBrooks BarnhizerBranden CarlsonPayton SandfortInjuries/OutBranden Carlson (again) outThomas Sorber (ACL) outNikola Subject (G-League) outJalen Williams (hamstring) out
Head CoachMark Daigneault
Key Matchups Baylor Scheierman vs Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderGilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.7 factors, 4.5 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.4 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 55.1% from the sector and 38.3% from past the arc. Gilgeous-Alexander is the reigning MVP and is likely one of the leaders to win it as soon as once more this season. He’s the important thing to the Thunder’s successful methods. In an effort to gradual the Thunder, the Celtics should decelerate SGA. I’m simply guessing that Scheierman will begin on the level however White could play and it’s doable that Joe will go together with another person to start out right here.
Neemias Queta vs Chet HolmgrenHolmgren is averaging 17.3 factors, 9.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.9 blocks per recreation. He’s taking pictures 55.2% from the sector and 35.6% from past the arc. Holmgren is a menace to seize rebounds and block photographs close to the basket and the Celtics have to attempt to preserve him out of the paint. He also can hit threes and so the Celtics want to stick with him on the perimeter as nicely.
Keys to the GameDefense – Protection is at all times the most important key to successful. That is going to be a tricky matchup for the Celtics because the Thunder are first within the league with a defensive score of 106.2 whereas the Celtics are fifth with a defensive score of 111.8. The Celtics have to tighten up their protection and make enjoying protection a precedence particularly in opposition to this Thunder workforce that performs lock down protection. Will probably be even tougher for the Celtics on protection if each Derrick White and Jayson Tatum are out.
Rebound – Rebounding can also be a key to successful. 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 present themselves further possessions. The Thunder are fifteenth with 43.8 rebounds per recreation whereas the Celtics are fifth with 46.3 rebounds per recreation. A lot of rebounding is need and energy and the Celtics as a workforce should put within the further effort to seize rebounds.
Take Care of the Ball – The Celtics have to preserve their focus and never flip the ball over. The Thunder are 1st within the league with 22.1 factors off turnovers per recreation. They’re additionally 4th with 9.7 steals per recreation. The Celtics have to maneuver the ball as a result of they’re a a lot better workforce after they transfer the ball and don’t over dribble. However they have to focus and make cautious passes and never get sloppy. In addition they should bear in mind 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 Centered and Prepared for a Powerful Sport – The Thunder are an excellent workforce and so they play distinctive protection. The Celtics should be able to go to the basket in the event that they battle from three. In addition they should be able to shoot from midrange if each the paint and the perimeter are defended tightly. The Celtics should keep targeted on enjoying laborious for 48 minutes and on enjoying robust protection and on enjoying the appropriate manner. They’ll’t afford to let the Thunder play tougher than them.
X-FactorsOn the Street – The Celtics are enjoying of their third straight highway recreation. The Thunder have the benefit of being at house in entrance of their followers and so they have nice followers. The Celtics want to beat the distractions of journey and enjoying on the highway in entrance of hostile followers. That is additionally the ultimate recreation of a highway journey and people are among the many hardest video games to win because the workforce is highway weary and generally focus isn’t the place it needs to be due to it.
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 result of the sport and the Celtics have to play the appropriate manner and never permit the officiating to take them out of their recreation. They’ll’t let unhealthy calls and no calls take away their focus.
