Boston Celtics beat Oklahoma City Thunder to end 12-game winning streak
Jaylen Brown scored 31 points as the Boston Celtics rallied to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder 119-109 on Wednesday, ending the visitors’ 12-game winning streak.
The Celtics overturned an early 11-point deficit to secure a crucial victory in a clash between two of the NBA’s elite franchises.
Jayson Tatum overcame recent struggles to register a vital double-double, contributing 19 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists for the hosts.
The result means the two championship contenders split their regular-season series, following a narrow victory for the Thunder two weeks ago.
Brown dominates decisive third quarter
The turning point arrived after half-time when the dynamic Celtics forward exploded for 14 points in a transformative third period.
His impressive scoring burst propelled the home side into an 88-83 advantage heading into the final 12 minutes of action.
The Eastern Conference heavyweights stretched their lead to as much as 14 points down the stretch to pull away from their title rivals.
A late layup from Brown, combined with clutch free throws by Derrick White, successfully fended off a brief fightback from the Western Conference leaders.
Gilgeous-Alexander shines in defeat
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander produced a standout individual display for the defeated visitors, recording a game-high 33 points alongside eight assists.
The Canadian guard has now scored 30 or more points in seven consecutive meetings against Boston, matching a remarkable streak last achieved by LeBron James between 2004 and 2008.
However, the visitors were severely punished on the glass, surrendering a staggering 19-2 deficit in second-chance points.
Poor perimeter shooting also hampered the table-topping Thunder, who managed to convert just 12 of their 37 attempts from beyond the arc.
Injured stars return for playoff push
The highly anticipated rematch featured much stronger lineups than their previous encounter, which was marred by the absence of several high-profile figures.
Jalen Williams made a quiet return for the Thunder, managing seven points after missing 16 matches with a hamstring injury.
Boston also welcomed back key personnel, with Tatum and White returning to the court after recent spells on the sidelines.
The impressive triumph marks Boston’s first victory against an opponent sitting 40 or more games over a .500 win percentage since defeating the Golden State Warriors in March 2017.