Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a stellar performance, scoring 34 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a hard-fought 118-112 victory over the reigning NBA champions, the Boston Celtics. The win, which took place at TD Garden, secured the Thunder’s spot in the playoffs and served as a potential preview of the NBA Finals.
Gilgeous-Alexander, a frontrunner for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, showcased his dominance, shooting 11-of-20 from the field while adding five rebounds and seven assists. His efficiency from the free-throw line, where he converted 10 of 11 attempts, played a crucial role in silencing the home crowd in Boston.
With this victory, Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City improved to a 54-12 record, solidifying their place in next month’s playoffs. The win also highlighted the poise and maturity of the young Thunder squad, which is the youngest team in the league.
The decisive moment came in the fourth quarter when Oklahoma City pulled away in the final minutes. Cason Wallace drained a crucial 24-foot three-pointer before following up with a driving reverse layup, extending the Thunder’s lead to double digits with under two minutes remaining.
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Speaking after the game, Gilgeous-Alexander credited the Thunder’s defensive resilience for their success against a Boston team that attempted an astonishing 63 three-pointers. “We were able to get stops, and that’s been the trend for us recently,” he told ESPN. “When you’re coming down the stretch against a good basketball team with good players, you’ve got to find a way, and we did that tonight.”
While Gilgeous-Alexander stole the spotlight, 22-year-old center Chet Holmgren also made a significant impact, finishing with a double-double of 23 points and 15 rebounds. Gilgeous-Alexander praised his teammate, calling him “a stud” with a bright future ahead.
Jayson Tatum led Boston’s scoring efforts with 33 points, while Derrick White contributed 22. Despite missing Jaylin Williams from the lineup, the Thunder had seven players scoring in double figures, demonstrating their depth and versatility.
Oklahoma City, which last won an NBA title in 1979 when the franchise was based in Seattle as the SuperSonics, is now looking to build on this momentum as they set their sights on a deep playoff run.
