Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a 34-point performance as the Oklahoma City Thunder secured a 118-112 victory over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night, clinching a playoff spot in the process.
Chet Holmgren contributed 23 points and 15 rebounds, helping Oklahoma City improve to 54-12 and maintain its position atop the Western Conference. The win marked the Thunder’s 17th victory in their last 18 games and completed a season sweep of the defending NBA champions.
Boston, now 47-19 and second in the East, launched a franchise-record 63 three-pointers, hitting 20 of them. Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 33 points, while Derrick White added 22 and Al Horford recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds.
The Thunder set the tone early, scoring the game’s first nine points and building a 12-point lead in the third quarter. Boston responded with a 14-2 run, tying the game at 88 at the end of the third.
With the score knotted at 98, Oklahoma City pulled away behind key plays from Kenrich Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander. Williams drained a three-pointer before Gilgeous-Alexander hit free throws and a turnaround jumper to spark an 8-0 run.
Boston’s aggressive three-point shooting included an NBA-record 36 attempts in the first half alone. Jaylen Brown struggled, finishing with 10 points on 5-for-15 shooting while missing all five of his three-point attempts before fouling out.
Holmgren’s presence inside helped the Thunder control the boards, finishing with a 44-41 rebounding advantage. Oklahoma City also capitalized on Boston’s 13 turnovers, turning them into 17 points.
Luguentz Dort added 13 points, and Isaiah Hartenstein chipped in 11 off the bench for the Thunder. Cason Wallace and Isaiah Joe each scored 14 and 11, respectively.
Tatum’s all-around effort included eight rebounds and eight assists, but his six turnovers proved costly. Jrue Holiday had nine points and two assists, while Payton Pritchard contributed eight points off the bench.
The Thunder, now officially playoff-bound, will look to extend their dominance as they continue their road trip. Boston, coming off a five-game winning streak, will seek to bounce back as it fights for the top seed in the East.
