Porzingis scores 27, Celtics earn home-court advantage in playoffs with 135-100 win over Thunder
BOSTON (AP) Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault likened the Celtics' performance this season to that of a Ferrari.
Boston's latest victory over the Thunder earned it yet another luxury with the playoffs fast approaching.
Kristaps Porzingis had 27 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks, helping the Celtics power past the Thunder 135-100 on Wednesday night to secure the best record in the NBA and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
Jayson Tatum finished with 24 points and Jaylen Brown added 23 points and seven rebounds for Boston, which won its 11th consecutive home game and improved to 60-16 on the season.
"We deserve it. I think it's possibly going to matter if we follow through with the vision we have for ourselves," Porzingis said.
Brown likes the progression the team has been making as the regular season winds down.
“We're not skipping any steps," Brown said. "Sixty wins. I think we're on track. When the playoffs start, it's back to square one.”
Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said the milestone is another achievement his team won't take for granted. But he also said it isn't something he wants them to dwell on.
“It's very hard to do. We may never be in this position again," Mazzulla said. "We talked about it as a team. We talked about it before the game, to try to treat this game as the clincher. To kind of put that on ourselves to be able to do that. I think it was important for us to simulate that. ... We should enjoy it tonight, and when wake up tomorrow - nobody cares.”
Brown was questionable heading into the game with a sprained left hand. He said he got it examined after Boston's win at Charlotte on Monday and described it as a sprained ligament.
“I think it’s fine. It’s something I’m not concerned with moving forward,” he said. "But it bothered me a little bit tonight.”
The Celtics trailed for only 62 seconds in the game.
Boston led by as many as 16 in the first half before Oklahoma City cut it to six points in the third quarter. Leading by 10 after three, the Celtics opened the fourth with a 12-4 run to stretch their lead to 105-87.
Josh Giddey led Oklahoma City with 17 points. Luguentz Dort added 15 points. The Thunder finished with 14 turnovers and were just 5 of 24 from beyond the arc.
OKC played without All-Star and leading scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who sat for the fourth time in five games with a bruised right quadriceps. Jalen Williams missed his second straight with a sprained left ankle.
Daigneault said prior to the game that the biggest challenge Porzingis has presented this season with the Celtics is his ability to be both a rim protector and floor spacer on a roster full of shooters.
The 7-footer did both in the first half, getting 17 points, nine rebounds and three blocks in 15 minutes.
Porzingis also punctuated one of the Celtics’ best offensive sequences. Payton Pritchard dribbled into the paint, was stopped under the basket and threw the ball out to Sam Hauser in the corner. Hauser quickly swung it to Brown as he crossed half court. Brown then drove and flipped a no-look, behind-the-head pass to Porzingis on the wing for his third 3 of the game.
The basket gave Boston a 50-34 lead, its largest of the half. The Celtics took a 61-47 advantage into halftime. It marked the 50th time this season they’ve scored 60 or more points in the opening half, tying the franchise record that was set last season.
UP NEXT
Thunder: At Indiana on Friday.
Celtics: Host Sacramento on Friday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Chet Holmgren vs. Kristaps Porzingis (Celtics gains possession) | |||
11:39 | Jaylen Brown misses three point jump shot | |||
11:38 | Kristaps Porzingis offensive rebound | |||
11:35 | Luguentz Dort personal foul (Kristaps Porzingis draws the foul) | |||
11:21 | +2 | Kristaps Porzingis makes two point turnaround jump shot | 0-2 | |
11:05 | Chet Holmgren misses three point jump shot | |||
11:03 | Chet Holmgren offensive rebound | |||
10:58 | +2 | Chet Holmgren makes two point driving layup | 2-2 | |
10:40 | Derrick White misses three point jump shot | |||
10:39 | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | |||
10:25 | Derrick White blocks Chet Holmgren's two point driving floating jump shot | |||
10:23 | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | |||
10:15 | Jayson Tatum misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | |||
10:14 | Jayson Tatum offensive rebound | |||
10:14 | +2 | Jayson Tatum makes two point tip layup | 2-4 | |
9:54 | Aaron Wiggins turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
9:49 | Jayson Tatum misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
9:46 | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | |||
9:40 | Chet Holmgren misses three point jump shot | |||
9:37 | Jaylen Brown defensive rebound | |||
9:28 | +3 | Kristaps Porzingis makes three point jump shot (Jaylen Brown assists) | 2-7 | |
9:11 | Aaron Wiggins turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
9:00 | Jaylen Brown turnover (bad pass) (Aaron Wiggins steals) | |||
8:57 | +2 | Cason Wallace makes two point running dunk (Josh Giddey assists) | 4-7 | |
8:46 | Jayson Tatum misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
8:45 | Aaron Wiggins defensive rebound | |||
8:36 | +2 | Josh Giddey makes two point driving finger roll layup | 6-7 | |
8:17 | Derrick White misses three point jump shot | |||
8:16 | Luguentz Dort defensive rebound | |||
8:08 | Luguentz Dort misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
8:06 | Jrue Holiday defensive rebound | |||
7:58 | +2 | Jayson Tatum makes two point running layup (Jrue Holiday assists) | 6-9 | |
7:42 | +2 | Aaron Wiggins makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 8-9 | |
7:23 | +3 | Kristaps Porzingis makes three point jump shot (Jayson Tatum assists) | 8-12 | |
7:06 | +2 | Josh Giddey makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 10-12 | |
6:52 | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point driving finger roll layup (Derrick White assists) | 10-14 | |
6:33 | +2 | Aaron Wiggins makes two point driving layup (Cason Wallace assists) | 12-14 | |
6:24 | Celtics 60 second timeout | |||
6:14 | Kristaps Porzingis misses two point jump shot | |||
6:13 | Jaylin Williams defensive rebound | |||
6:05 | Josh Giddey misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | |||
6:03 | Derrick White defensive rebound | |||
5:56 | Jaylen Brown misses three point jump shot | |||
5:54 | Isaiah Joe defensive rebound | |||
5:45 | +2 | Josh Giddey makes two point driving layup (Jaylin Williams assists) | 14-14 | |
5:29 | +3 | Sam Hauser makes three point jump shot (Derrick White assists) | 14-17 | |
5:09 | Kristaps Porzingis shooting foul (Jaylin Williams draws the foul) | |||
5:09 | +1 | Jaylin Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 15-17 | |
5:09 | +1 | Jaylin Williams makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 16-17 | |
5:07 | Jaylen Brown turnover (bad pass) (Cason Wallace steals) | |||
5:03 | Kenrich Williams misses three point jump shot | |||
5:01 | Jaylen Brown defensive rebound | |||
4:53 | Jaylen Brown turnover (bad pass) (Isaiah Joe steals) | |||
4:48 | Cason Wallace misses three point running jump shot | |||
4:46 | Jaylin Williams offensive rebound | |||
4:44 | +3 | Josh Giddey makes three point jump shot (Jaylin Williams assists) | 19-17 | |
4:15 | Jaylen Brown misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
4:13 | Celtics offensive rebound | |||
4:13 | Jaylin Williams kicked ball violation | |||
4:02 | +2 | Al Horford makes two point layup (Payton Pritchard assists) | 19-19 | |
3:50 | Jaylin Williams misses three point jump shot | |||
3:47 | Thunder offensive rebound | |||
3:37 | Kenrich Williams misses two point driving bank hook shot | |||
3:35 | Al Horford defensive rebound | |||
3:31 | Jaylen Brown misses two point running layup | |||
3:30 | Josh Giddey defensive rebound | |||
3:19 | Jaylen Brown blocks Kenrich Williams's two point pullup jump shot | |||
3:18 | Josh Giddey offensive rebound | |||
3:12 | Sam Hauser shooting foul (Cason Wallace draws the foul) | |||
3:12 | +1 | Cason Wallace makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 20-19 | |
3:12 | +1 | Cason Wallace makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-19 | |
2:53 | Kenrich Williams shooting foul (Payton Pritchard draws the foul) | |||
2:53 | Thunder 60 second timeout | |||
2:53 | +1 | Payton Pritchard makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-20 | |
2:53 | +1 | Payton Pritchard makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-21 | |
2:29 | Thunder turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
2:14 | Jayson Tatum misses three point jump shot | |||
2:13 | Al Horford offensive rebound | |||
2:08 | +3 | Jayson Tatum makes three point pullup jump shot (Al Horford assists) | 21-24 | |
1:50 | Luguentz Dort misses three point jump shot | |||
1:48 | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | |||
1:41 | Al Horford turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
1:28 | Luguentz Dort misses three point jump shot | |||
1:26 | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | |||
1:16 | +2 | Al Horford makes two point layup (Payton Pritchard assists) | 21-26 | |
1:02 | Kenrich Williams misses two point driving reverse layup | |||
0:59 | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | |||
0:52 | Jrue Holiday misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
0:51 | Payton Pritchard offensive rebound | |||
0:46 | Luguentz Dort blocks Payton Pritchard's two point pullup jump shot | |||
0:45 | Al Horford offensive rebound | |||
0:44 | +2 | Al Horford makes two point putback layup | 21-28 | |
0:33 | Isaiah Joe misses three point jump shot | |||
0:31 | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | |||
0:27 | +2 | Jrue Holiday makes two point running reverse layup (Payton Pritchard assists) | 21-30 | |
0:17 | Jrue Holiday shooting foul (Luguentz Dort draws the foul) | |||
0:17 | +1 | Luguentz Dort makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-30 | |
0:17 | +1 | Luguentz Dort makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-30 | |
0:01 | Sam Hauser misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
0:00 | Celtics offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:51 | Gordon Hayward misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
11:48 | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | |||
11:32 | Aaron Wiggins shooting foul (Jayson Tatum draws the foul) | |||
11:32 | +1 | Jayson Tatum makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-31 | |
11:32 | +1 | Jayson Tatum makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-32 | |
11:24 | Aaron Wiggins turnover (bad pass) (Kristaps Porzingis steals) | |||
11:14 | Aaron Wiggins blocks Al Horford's two point driving layup | |||
11:12 | Luguentz Dort defensive rebound | |||
11:01 | Luguentz Dort turnover (bad pass) (Jayson Tatum steals) | |||
10:55 | Jrue Holiday turnover (lost ball) (Gordon Hayward steals) | |||
10:50 | +2 | Chet Holmgren makes two point running layup (Gordon Hayward assists) | 25-32 | |
10:32 | Payton Pritchard misses three point jump shot | |||
10:31 | Gordon Hayward defensive rebound | |||
10:19 | Luguentz Dort misses three point jump shot | |||
10:18 | Jrue Holiday defensive rebound | |||
10:12 | +2 | Jrue Holiday makes two point running layup | 25-34 | |
9:52 | Kristaps Porzingis blocks Aaron Wiggins's two point driving layup | |||
9:51 | Thunder offensive rebound | |||
9:51 | Thunder 60 second timeout | |||
9:47 | Kristaps Porzingis blocks Aaron Wiggins's two point layup | |||
9:44 | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | |||
9:36 | Jayson Tatum misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
9:35 | Luguentz Dort defensive rebound | |||
9:25 | Luguentz Dort misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
9:24 | Jrue Holiday defensive rebound | |||
9:18 | Al Horford misses three point running jump shot | |||
9:17 | Kristaps Porzingis offensive rebound | |||
9:17 | +2 | Kristaps Porzingis makes two point tip dunk | 25-36 | |
8:57 | Chet Holmgren misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
8:56 | Jrue Holiday defensive rebound | |||
8:51 | Payton Pritchard misses two point running reverse layup | |||
8:50 | Gordon Hayward defensive rebound | |||
8:40 | Chet Holmgren misses two point driving layup | |||
8:39 | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | |||
8:23 | +2 | Kristaps Porzingis makes two point pullup bank jump shot (Jrue Holiday assists) | 25-38 | |
8:12 | Aaron Wiggins misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
8:10 | Luguentz Dort offensive rebound | |||
8:08 | +2 | Luguentz Dort makes two point putback layup | 27-38 | |
7:56 | Kristaps Porzingis misses two point alley-oop layup | |||
7:55 | Kristaps Porzingis offensive rebound | |||
7:54 | +3 | Payton Pritchard makes three point jump shot (Kristaps Porzingis assists) | 27-41 | |
7:53 | Thunder 60 second timeout | |||
7:40 | +2 | Cason Wallace makes two point driving floating jump shot (Chet Holmgren assists) | 29-41 | |
7:10 | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point driving layup (Kristaps Porzingis assists) | 29-43 | |
7:01 | Chet Holmgren misses three point jump shot | |||
6:59 | Payton Pritchard defensive rebound | |||
6:48 | Kristaps Porzingis misses two point turnaround jump shot | |||
6:45 | Josh Giddey defensive rebound | |||
6:34 | Cason Wallace misses three point jump shot | |||
6:32 | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | |||
6:16 | +2 | Kristaps Porzingis makes two point turnaround jump shot (Payton Pritchard assists) | 29-45 | |
5:53 | +3 | Isaiah Joe makes three point stepback jump shot | 32-45 | |
5:34 | Sam Hauser misses three point jump shot | |||
5:31 | Kenrich Williams defensive rebound | |||
5:20 | +2 | Josh Giddey makes two point driving finger roll layup (Cason Wallace assists) | 34-45 | |
5:02 | +2 |