Stiles Points: OKC Thunder Has Many Tools in Their Tool Box

Wednesday night served as a potential NBA Finals preview between the reigning champion Boston Celtics on its home parquet floor against the Western Conference No. 1 seeded Oklahoma City Thunder on ESPN.

It lived up to the billing, a back-and-forth game that saw the Celtics lead only grow to two, ten lead changes and as many ties –– which the Thunder eventually won, 118-112 after growing a 12 point lead during the game.

This marks a season-series sweep for the Thunder over the Green and White, after knocking off the Celtics 105-92 in the Paycom Center on Jan. 5.

Wednesday displayed the various ways Oklahoma City can win a ball game. Despite not having Jalen Williams and Alex Caruso, the Thunder picked up a massive road win.

Many –– including this scribe –– thought this would be too much adversity to overcome. OKC was without its No. 2 scorer, who leads secondary units that already labor to score at times and one of its best defenders againt a lethal offense. But yet, they found a way.

It was all about versatility for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Mark Daigneault spit out lineups that in one moment saw two seven-footers crowding Boston and in an instant one would vanish and the other stays on and oh yeah, the Thunder can go small as well.

Boston never looked comfortable against a Thunder defense that flew all over the court with its rotations to contest most of the 63 triples that the Celtics hoisted at the rim. The Thunder's quick hands forced Boston into 12 turnovers –– and the reigning champs did the same, as OKC had an abnormal amount (11) as well –– and it results in the Celtics shooting just 31% from downtown compared to their usual 37% mark.

Offensively, the Thunder watched Chet Holmgren step up to pour in 23 points which ranks as his fourth best scoring game on the year and best mark since returning from a hip fracture suffered on Nov. 10. Couple that with 15 rebounds, two assists and a block and his impact was more than felt.

His courtpart in the front court, Isaiah Hartenstein, added 11 points, six rebounds, three assists and a steal in 26 minutes of work. The double-big lineups play its best basketball –– connecting an offense especially –– since the duo has stepped on the floor.

Above all else, Cason Wallace deserves credit for this win adding 14 points with just one missed shot to pair with four rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block while commanding the secondary unit on the ball in a role that he has not been thrust into much this year.

Everyone stepped up to make up for two rotational players in street clothes and pick up their teammate, Aaron Wiggins, who had a shocking 0-for-9 night from the floor.

It was the defense and finding offense without superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the floor that won the Thunder this game, getting its 54th victory in the face of adversity.

Oh yeah, Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA's front runner for the MVP award went for 34 points, five rebounds, seven assists and a steal on 55% shooting from the floor. This Celtics defense harrased the Thunder superstar and defended him better than any team in the league has and yet, here his box score sits.

The three time All-Stars ability to problem solve on the fly in this game continues to show just how equipped the Thunder are for the postseason, despite not capturing a ring just yet. However, no one gets a ring, until they do so the argument –– while infallible until those in question wins –– falls flat with what is put in front of us. A player whose game has already translated to the playoffs as his 32 points per game against Dallas were the only reason the Thunder brought that series to a sixth game before being ousted by the eventual West champs.

Time will tell if Oklahoma City can pull it off this year, but wins like this prove they are capable. The amount of tools they have in their tool box to figure out ways to win give them as good of a shot as any to climb to the mountain top.

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