The Boston Celtics put six players in double figures Monday night, and rallied past the Oklahoma City Thunder 126-122 at TD Garden for their seventh consecutive victory.
OKC (6-8) gave Boston all they could handle. It was back and forth early, before the Thunder grabbed the lead and led by nine at the halftime break. That lead was extended to the biggest of the night for either team at 88-73 on a driving layup by Jalen Williams with 4:33 left in the third quarter. That is when the Celtics (11-3) began to turn it around. A three-pointer and a layup late in the period by Payton Pritchard sliced it to seven headed to the fourth. They finally caught OKC with 5:21 left to play when Marcus Smart hit 1-2 from the foul line to make it 108-107 Boston, their first lead since the first quarter. With the score then even 115-115 with 1:48 to go, Smart and Derrick White each hit a three-pointer 46 seconds apart to give the C’s the lead for good.
Jayson Tatum led the way in the win with 27 points, 10 rebounds, three steals, and three blocks. Jaylen Brown had 26 points, six rebounds, six assists, and two steals. Rounding out the double digit scoring was Smart with 22 points, five rebounds, eight assists, White 16 points, five assists, and four steals, Al Horford 12 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists, and Pritchard with 10 points and four rebounds. Oklahoma City put five players in double figures in the loss led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who had 37 points, four rebounds, eight assists, and two steals. Luguentz Dort added 21 points. The Celtics haven’t lost since a 114-113 overtime setback to Cleveland back on November 2. Boston visits Atlanta to take on the Hawks on Wednesday night at 7:30.
