Despite missing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williamson Tuesday night, the Oklahoma City Thunder nearly defeated the Philadelphia 76ers on the road in a close finish. OKC led for a chunk of a game, and it wasn’t until the final 37.1 seconds of the game that the 76ers took a lead that they would hold until the eventual 109-105 result. Now the Thunder turns their attention to the best record in the NBA as they take on the Celtics in Boston for the third road game in just 4 days.
At 59-16 on the season, the Celtics have already clinched the top seed in the East as they are so far ahead of the rest of the pack. The Thunder defeated the Celtics 127-123 in OKC on January 2nd, but the Thunder are once again without SGA and JDub, so it could be a rough night for Oklahoma City.
Tip-Off: 6:30 PM CT
Location: TD Garden (Boston, Massachusetts)
Television: ESPN
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal
Twitter: Follow @ZacharyLowNBA for live tweets and discussion during the game
Game Notes: Oklahoma City Thunder Official Game Notes, Boston Celtics Official Game Notes
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Josh Giddey
- SG: Aaron Wiggins
- SF: Luguentz Dort
- PF: Jaylin Williams
- C: Chet Holmgren
Boston Celtics
- PG: Jrue Holiday
- SG: Derrick White
- SF: Jaylen Brown
- PF: Jayson Tatum
- C: Kristaps Porzingis
Injury Report
Thunder
- Ousmane Dieng is OUT (G League — on assignment).
- Adam Flagler is OUT (G League — two-way).
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is OUT (right quad contusion).
- Keyontae Johnson is OUT (G League — two-way).
- Olivier Sarr is OUT (G League — two-way).
- Jalen Williams is OUT (sprained left ankle).
Celtics
- Jaylen Brown is QUESTIONABLE (sprained left hand).
- JD Davison is OUT (G League — two-way).
- Drew Peterson is OUT (G League — two-way).
- Neemias Queta is OUT (G league — two-way).
- Jaden Springer is QUESTIONABLE (left knee tendinopathy)
- Jordan Walsh is OUT (G League — on assignment).
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder are 16-15 against the Celtics (7-9 at home, 9-6 on the road).
- The Thunder have won the season series with the Celtics 4 times, lost it 4 times, and tied 7 times.
- The Thunder went 1-1 against the Celtics last season (1-0 at home, 0-1 on the road).
- The Thunder are 1-0 against the Celtics so far this season (1-0 at home, 0-0 on the road).