Thunder/Celtics Live Game Blog

The Thunder's improbable season continues in Boston on Sunday when they wrap up their season series with the Celtics. Let's take this time to remind you just how good the Thunder has been away from the Peake.

Since December Oklahoma City is 18-4 on the road, which is the best record in the NBA during that stretch, a win would also be the 12th road victory in 13 tries.

On the injury front, the Thunder are without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander due to a hip contusion, Darius Bazley is also out, while Kevin Hervey and Isiah Roby are on assignment with the Blue. For the Celtics, Gordon Heyward is listed as probable despite a right knee contusion.

Terrance Ferguson will start in place of Gilgeous-Alexander. This is Ferguson's first start since he took his leave of absence back in January.

The Celtics and Thunder are trending in opposite directions; the Thunder have won their last two while Boston has suffered back to back overtime losses to the Rockets and Nets.

In the Thunder's win over the Knicks on Friday Danilo Gallinari lead Oklahoma City in scoring with 22 points, Steven Adams had 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Chirs Paul scored 21.

Paul's best performance came in the post-game media scrum when he refused to entertain the notion of playing for the Knicks; he also made sure to take a subtle swipe at James Dolan for the absence of Spike Lee at Madison Square Garden.

The Last Time They Met:

Former Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart may not have made the most of his return home in the way of scoring, but it was his steal that sealed a win for the visiting Celtics on Sunday. With 5.8 seconds left and the Thunder trailing 108-111 after two Kemba Walker free-throws, Smart pokes the ball loose from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Dennis Schroder was forced to foul Walker, and Walker slammed the door shut by making it 112-108 game. Chris Paul would hit a 33 pull up jumper in the final seconds giving us a final score of 112-111 Celtics. Forward Jayson Tatum says, "He definitely saved us today, saved me from the three turnovers I had late in the stretch, so that was a big-time play by him."

Vegas Says:

The Celtics are a five-point favorite, according to Vegas Insider. However, the Thunder are 7-4 in Boston. In a strange twist, Oklahoma City is only 5-7 vs. the Celtics at the Peake.

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First Quarter:

I understand Billy Donovan not wanting to mess with his rotations and I am hoping for nothing but the bet for Ferguson, but, just to get the Thunder started I would have gone with Schroder. That being said, Oklahoma City is up by five with 1:44 left in the first quarter.

The Thunder has a 12-0 advantage in bench points. Schroder has nine of those points, while Diallo has three.

29-26 Thunder after one quarter. Thunder 50 percent from the field and outscoring Boston 12-4 in bench points. Dennis Schroder with nine points off the bench.

Second Quarter:

Grant Willams most definitely got Gallinari's arm on that attempt from the corner. This is one time Mike Cage and I agree about the officiating.

That was an awful possession. Gallinari held the ball way too long then took a contested shot with Williams in his face.

Nice alley-oop! Ferguson got the heck up. My gosh, he must have been a good two feet above the rim.

Chris Paul worked his butt off for that shot!

Dang, it! Worked em late into the shot clock and Tatum still got open. That is four straight from beyond the arc! Make it five! 63-45 Boston with less than a minute to go.

Chris Paul is a one-man fast break.

The Thunder getting down to an 11 point Celtics lead before the half. 63-52. Since November 25th the Thunder are 24-5 in clutch games; keep that in mind as we go to the third quarter.

Third Quarter:

Thunder is on a 12-0 run going back to the second quarter.

Paul had it down to a one-possession game.

Thunder can't seem to get that key stop.

Schroder with a 25 foot three on an assist from Paul to end the third and make it a one-point game.

Paul and Schroder combine for 23 points in the third quarter.

Fourth Quarter:

Nader says "Take that Kemba walker!" Nader coming up big on both ends the last two possessions.

We'll have post-game reactions and video when the Thunder/Celtics wrap up.

I swore Diallo blocked that! Nader watched Smart go by on that play. Marcus Smart finds ways to hurt the Thunder.