© Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Celtics Best Thunder, Clinch Homecourt Throughout Playoffs
The Boston Celtics entered Wednesday night's matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder with a chance to clinch home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, including if they reach the Finals.
The C's also entered the evening having won ten straight tilts at TD Garden, the site of this potential preview of who might represent the Eastern and Western Conferences in June. They did so by an average of 24.3 points.
Catching the visitors on the second night of a back-to-back after a 109-105 road loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (right quad contusion) and Jalen Williams (left ankle sprain) inactive, the hosts built a 30-23 lead entering the second quarter.
At the root of that was effective ball movement that translated to assisting on 9/12 field goals, as Boston consistently facilitated quality looks throughout the frame.
The Celtics also produced 16 points in the paint and parlayed five offensive rebounds into 11 second-chance points in the opening 12 minutes, helping them stage a late 11-0 run and play from ahead early.
The hosts wisely stuck to that approach in the second period, including effectively moving the rock before Payton Pritchard left Kenrich Williams in his wake, driving middle, then working the other way, freeing himself for a layup.
There was also Kristaps Porzingis doing damage on the boards, throwing down a put-back dunk over Aaron Wiggins and Chet Holmgren, and grabbing his own miss, then kicking the ball out to Pritchard for a corner three.
The seven-foot-three center also produced a sequence where he swatted Holmgren at one end, then gathered a nifty over-the-head dish from Jaylen Brown before burying a three at the other.
Porzingis' 17 points and three blocks helped the Celtics take a 61-47 lead into halftime. Thirty-four points in the paint, converting eight offensive rebounds into 18 second-chance points, and the second unit chipping in 18, with Al Horford providing eight of those while Pritchard added seven, also proved crucial to Boston playing from in front and enjoying a double-digit lead.
While the C's have shown meaningful growth in terms of their third-quarter performance this season, Wednesday looked more like regression. It's an understandable blip on the radar late in the season rather than a cause for concern, but they committed nine fouls and gave up 36 points in the period.
Fortunately for the hosts, despite a slow, choppy pace due to the whistle constantly sounding, they drilled 4/9 threes, Jayson Tatum put 13 points on the board, and Horford chipped in eight.
Boston's 32 points in the frame kept them in front by double-digits, entering the fourth quarter ahead 93-83.
The final frame saw the Celtics raise their energy on defense, forcing four turnovers, parlaying them into ten points, scoring seven on the fast break, and extending their advantage to 118-90 halfway through the last 12 minutes of the game.
The final frame saw the Celtics raise their energy on defense, forcing four turnovers, parlaying them into ten points, scoring seven on the fast break, and extending their advantage to 118-90 halfway through the last 12 minutes of the game.
And with Jaylen Brown pouring in 15 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter, the hosts applied the finishing touches early, cruising to the best record in the NBA this regular season.
The Celtics are now on to a Friday night matchup against the Sacramento Kings. That game will tip off at 7:30 EST at TD Garden.
Further Reading
Celtics' Assistant Likely Candidate for Hornets' Head-Coaching Vacancy
Jaylen Brown Shares What's Fueling Career Year: 'Nothing in This World Gonna Break My Spirit'
Jaylen Brown's Evolution Crucial to Celtics' Desire to Win with More Than Talent
Celtics Embracing Challenge to Go Beyond Most Talented
Jayson Tatum Opens Up About Sacrificing in Celtics' Title Pursuit: 'It's a Process'
Brad Stevens Discusses Celtics' Plan for Final Roster Spot
Marcus Smart Shares How Boston Shaped Him, His Message to Celtics Fans
Celtics Maturation Molded by Experience: 'It Builds, Like, an Armor'
Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'
Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'
