Thunder 104, Celtics 102

 

Last night in Oklahoma City, the Boston Celtics took on the Thunder, the  team with the best record in the entire NBA. They did it without their returning superstar, Jayson Tatum, who was ordered to rest his healing Achilles tendon as he returns to gameplay. Derrick White, another all-star caliber player, was out as well. 

And they almost won. They led by three at the half, and again after three quarters, and it took a pair of free throws with 0.8 seconds left in the game to avoid OT, and even then, Payton Pritchard still almost won the game for the C's with a 33-foot three-point attempt at 0.3 seconds.

So on a three-game road trip that included two of the top teams in the league, the Celtics finish 1-2. It really changes nothing. They're still in first place in their division and still trail Detroit in the East by 4½ games. And to those who claim the losses show that while good, the Celtics still can't beat the elite, I say that losing a single game by two points in the last second of play on the opposing team's court without two of your star players proves nothing. To which I'll also add, fuck you.

With Tatum and White out, Jaylen Brown led the team with 34 points. SGA had 35 for the Thunder and the press can't get over themselves for his performance. Pritchard had 14 points, and both Scheierman and González scored 11. At 104-102, it was a low-scoring, defensive game, mainly a showcase for Brown and SGA, and no one else had eye-popping numbers.

God, I hate Oklahoma. I hate Oklahoma City. I hate the Thunder. Hate their fans. I'm so glad the Celtics are getting out of that smelly-ass town. Saturday night, the Celtics are back home and will play the hapless Washington Wizards (16-49). The Celtics will win.