It’s no surprise that the Boston Celtics had the NBA’s best record as the calendar turned to 2024.
The Celtics were built to make a run at a title this season, and so far, they’re on the right track at 26-6.
But out in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team that finished 34 games under .500 just two seasons ago and is now in the late stages of its rebuild, has suddenly emerged as a contender as well.
Tuesday’s meeting between Boston and host Oklahoma City will pit those two powerhouses against each other, and a pair of winning streaks will be on the line.
The Celtics have won six consecutive games, their fourth winning streak of five or more games this season. Boston has also won 11 of its past 12.
“I think the way our team is constructed, it makes things simple with the addition of Jrue (Holiday) and (Kristaps Porzingis),” Celtics star Jaylen Brown said. “So that’s credit to us players, I think we’ve improved.
“I think credit to the front office for constructing a team that fits together, and then credit to the coaching staff for making sure that we know where we’re supposed to be, making sure we see where the reads are supposed to be made and making the game real clear for us. I think the coaching has been excellent this year in making sure we see the game the way a game should be played.”
The additions of Holiday, who is averaging 13.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game, and Porzingis, who is averaging 20.0 points and 7.2 rebounds, have helped Boston, as has the continued emergence of guard Derrick White.
White is averaging 17.0 points and 5.3 assists while shooting 49.1 percent from the field — all career highs.
The Celtics are hoping to get Holiday back after he missed Sunday’s 134-101 win at San Antonio with a right elbow sprain.
The Thunder have won four consecutive games and seven of their past eight, entering Tuesday’s matchup with the second-fewest losses in the conference. Oklahoma City is 22-9 this season.
While the core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren has played well all season for Oklahoma City, third-year guard Josh Giddey has struggled.
However, Giddey is coming off two strong performances in wins over the Denver Nuggets and Brooklyn Nets, combining for 32 points on 14-of-26 shooting along with 14 rebounds and nine assists.
“He’s doing exactly what I expected,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of Giddey. “I said this before, every young player gets thrown different looks and has to adjust, especially early in their careers. I’ve had to go through it. … Josh did exactly what he was supposed to do — learn from it, get better and attack it.”
The Thunder have been the NBA’s best at taking advantage of opponents’ mistakes, averaging 20.3 points off turnovers — 1.5 more than any other team in the league.
Against the Celtics, teams are averaging just 14.5 points per game off turnovers — tied for second lowest in the league.
In Sunday’s 124-108 win over Brooklyn, Oklahoma City forced just seven turnovers and turned them into just four points.
Tuesday’s game is the first of two between the teams this season.
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