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00:01Well, Deuce Tatum says his dad is only a 79 on the toughness scale, but they need him at 100
00:06tonight.
00:07Jalen Brown was at 100 in Oklahoma City a couple of weeks ago, going toe-to-toe with the MVP,
00:12Shane Gilgis-Alexander, who's wearing pink coming into this one.
00:15He's got his running mate, Jalen Williams, back in the fold. Thunder and Celtics, huge one coming up.
00:24Got it!
00:36And a welcome to TD Garden. This one has a monster feel, a potential finals preview between the visiting Thunder
00:44and the home Celtics.
00:45We cannot wait to watch this one with you. Alongside Brian Scalabrini and Abby Chin, I'm Drew Carter.
00:50And, Scal, these are the last two champions of the NBA, and there's a chance they meet up for the
00:54championship.
00:55And not only that, Drew, they're full strength.
00:57And when Oklahoma City is full strength, this group is going to be tough to beat in a seven-game
01:02series.
01:02Isaiah Hardenstein, Chet Holmgren, had that with SGA's offensive prowess.
01:06They could do it all. Defensively, they are elite.
01:10They see him right there, and then on the perimeter, they will guard you.
01:13And SGA, you know him. He can make huge shots looking for that second MVP trophy.
01:19They're going to have MVP candidate Jalen Brown.
01:21He was awesome against Oklahoma City.
01:24No JT, no Derek White.
01:27JB just kept delivering, shot after shot.
01:29Big bucket after big bucket, and he has some big-time defensive responsibilities.
01:33My eyes are on Jason Tatum.
01:35Didn't play in the last game against Oklahoma City.
01:37He's going to have to start knocking down some shots.
01:39He's going to have to be aggressive.
01:41The Celtics need him tonight for them to beat this OKC Thunder team.
01:46Celtics basketball on NBC Sports Boston is brought to you in part by TD,
01:50Bank of the Boston Celtics member, FDIC, TD Fane, NA.
01:53Buy Toyota's official website for deals via toyota.com.
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02:15I'm here with Coach and Joe.
02:16Like, Oklahoma City, now they're at full strength.
02:20Like, what do you see differently between when they have a full roster with Hartenstein
02:23and Chet and Jalen Williams and when the time that you guys played them, the guy's missing?
02:28Yeah, I mean, I think the biggest thing is you can't be blinded by the names
02:31and you have to have an understanding of the details, you know,
02:33and the things that lead to winning in the process that, you know, that they test.
02:37You know, it's forcing turnovers.
02:40You know, it's rebounding. It's their ability to execute.
02:43It's the, you know, body position on backups, staying away from the free throw line,
02:47defending their drives.
02:48Regardless of who's in, who's out, they have a great system in the way that they play
02:51and we have to be ready to execute and take those things away that give us a chance to win.
02:55SGA, I mean, obviously he's a tough cover.
02:57MVP of the league last year.
02:58It looks like he might win it again.
03:00How do you slow down a guy like that?
03:02How do you pick, like, the way you want to guard him?
03:04Yeah, just a cost-benefit analysis that you're constantly taking out information
03:07throughout the entire game.
03:08What are you willing to live with?
03:09What are you giving up on the other side of it?
03:11On the other side of every choice is a decision you have to make
03:14and an action that you have to execute.
03:16So we take the information on how the game is going,
03:18but it all starts with the things that you can control.
03:20We can control not following.
03:21We can control not giving up layups.
03:23We can control getting back in transition.
03:25And then, you know, whatever the game is giving you,
03:27then you make those adjustments.
03:28All right, Joe. Appreciate the time. Good luck today.
03:29All right. Thanks.
03:31This is a heavyweight battle with superstar players,
03:34MVP candidates, and a ton of championship experience.
03:38Thunder, Celtics, doesn't get better than that.
03:45The time has come.
03:47Here we come.
03:49The time has come.
03:51Here we come.
03:54The time has come.
04:14These are the games you circle when the schedule comes out.
04:17Here are the starting lineups brought to you by Jordan's.
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04:22Visit jordans.com.
04:24Thunder are healthy.
04:26SGA, Dort, J-Dub, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein.
04:29For the Celtics, White, Brown, Tatum, Hauser, and Kata.
04:33These teams are fully loaded.
04:35Key matchup presented by Subaru of New England.
04:37There's a lot to love about driving a brand new all-wheel drive Subaru.
04:41One of the best duels of the year for the Celtics.
04:44SGA and Jalen Brown going back and forth in the last meeting on March 12th.
04:49I'm expecting the same kind of fireworks today.
04:52I expect both those guys to be on the all-NBA first team this season.
04:56Gilgis Alexander pursuing his second consecutive MVP.
05:00Health report by South Coast Health providing exceptional care from people who care.
05:05It's a clean sheet for both teams with the exception of Nikola Vucevic still nursing that finger.
05:10So he's doing the high fives with his left hand.
05:13Thomas Sorber, their first-round pick, out with a torn ACL.
05:16But, Scal, this is really the first time all-season Oklahoma City has their full rotation healthy.
05:21And, oh, by the way, they're still first in the West and they've won 12 in a row.
05:25Yeah, when you hear people complain about, oh, we don't have chemistry, oh, we just got to get healthy.
05:29It's never an excuse for this particular team.
05:32The two guys, to me, it can be really hard to beat them in a seven-game series.
05:38Healthy is Hardenstein and Chet Holmgren.
05:41They dominate the paint.
05:43And they're both starting tonight as Mark Dignold goes with that double-big lineup.
05:47Good crew.
05:48Mark Davis, Pat Freyer, and Marat Kogut are officials as Holmgren missed the turnaround
05:52and Hauser corrals the defensive rebound.
05:55One day, Oklahoma City, they like to get back.
05:57They want to set their defense.
05:59Couldn't set at that time, but Cato smoked the bunny on a good feed from Brown, saved by Lou Dort.
06:05That'll be Celtics' ball.
06:06Man, Jalen Williams was talking to the official, not backing the play.
06:12That was a weird one.
06:13That's an early conversation to have with the officials.
06:15And just keep in mind, Mark Davis is a no-nonsense type of official.
06:19True, he almost gave you a tee, and he was going to kick you out, but I said, we don't
06:23have a replacement.
06:26There is Brown.
06:28Took too many steps.
06:29Mark Davis, you might remember, gave Brad Stevens an ejection, his only ejection as a coach.
06:36You got to go.
06:37He just gave Luka Doncic his 16-technical foul this season that the NBA came in and says,
06:41Now you're good, he keeps you playing.
06:42We'll rescind that.
06:43That's just Mark being Mark.
06:45But he has, this game will have no nonsense.
06:47And Mark's a great official.
06:49And these are physical teams.
06:51Lou Dort loads up a three, and they're the first points of the game.
06:56SGA, as aggressive as he is, he doesn't turn the ball over, and he finds guys.
07:01Very impressive player.
07:02You saw he had those nine assists against the Celtics in the first meeting this year.
07:07Also, 35 points.
07:09Couser, the answer.
07:10That's a great lead by Tatum.
07:12They were up to four on a handbag.
07:14You don't see that a lot.
07:16Tatum make the right play quickly.
07:18Dort lets White fly by.
07:20Same spot, same result.
07:22Dort below 33% from deep this year, but he's proven he can make them in big holes.
07:26Yeah, he will make big shots, but he will keep taking them as well.
07:30Oh, Jokic.
07:33Oh, this is right here.
07:34This is what I mean.
07:35And they switched back.
07:36Yeah, J-Dub defending Tatum.
07:38He's a great two-way player.
07:40Now White missed the shot.
07:42I want to see Tatum get that delayed isolation on the big.
07:48Now Williams navigating out the door.
07:50The reason I said Jokic is because he has two flagrant fouls against him this season.
07:54That's been part of the story of his year.
07:57He was a key cog in their championship run last season.
08:00Gilgis Alexander for three.
08:04That was so clean.
08:06He plays at his own pace.
08:08He is so skilled.
08:09Hauser a little strong.
08:10Hartenstein cleans it up.
08:12When he's out there, Oklahoma City's an elite rebounding team.
08:15And when he's not, they're just average.
08:18That's their one vulnerability is when Hartenstein's not playing.
08:21They can be gotten on the glass.
08:23Loves that little push shot, but missed it.
08:26K to the rebound.
08:29White also didn't play in Oklahoma City a couple weeks ago.
08:32Hauser is open.
08:34Ooh, can't believe that.
08:38Seltz in their last two games about 27% from deep.
08:41And the win in Memphis, lost to Minnesota Sunday.
08:44Kata with the swipe on Hartenstein.
08:50There's that MVP matchup.
08:53Brown accepts it.
08:54Gilgis Alexander, the shake, the dish.
08:57Williams comes up short.
09:04Brown, nice move to the rack.
09:06Kick it out.
09:07Hauser.
09:08Oh, man.
09:09He's like, he's aiming it.
09:11Let it fly.
09:13Getting a lot of good shots, though.
09:15Sam has taken four of the five Celtic shots from outside the arc.
09:22SGA.
09:25He is silky smooth.
09:29Just watch tonight, folks.
09:31He never sweats.
09:33So after the game, when they pour water on him, that's the only time he's got any type of perspiration
09:40on.
09:41He's not even going to have to shower before he puts on that pink, fluffy coat he had walking in
09:45tonight.
09:47Wipe the dish.
09:48Kata the finish.
09:50I want to see more Kata touches because right now they're making a conscious effort to take Tatum out of
09:55there.
09:55They're leaving Hauser, which seems strange.
09:58But that's the way they're guarding right now.
10:03Williams the miss.
10:03Tatum the rebound.
10:04And he'll bring it up himself.
10:05Finds a streaking Hauser.
10:07Oh, knocked away by Dort.
10:11Looked like Sam was going to have an easy one.
10:15Thunder, the number one defense in the NBA.
10:22This is Chet Holmgren.
10:23This is Minnesota defended by Wisconsin.
10:26Holmgren is fouled.
10:32All right, so a lot of things happen here.
10:33We watch SGA.
10:34Look how smooth this is.
10:36The contact, the drift, the quick snap.
10:38Chet Holmgren on the line.
10:39Shooting two.
10:41He is so good.
10:44As an offensive player, I don't know if I've ever seen a better one.
10:48Shoots it off the dribble.
10:49Gets downhill.
10:50Can get to the rim.
10:51Gets to the free throw line.
10:52Pulls up.
10:53Has the midi.
10:55And never sweats.
10:58He's a guard averaging 31.5 points on better than 55% field goal.
11:03He almost never turns it over.
11:05Yeah.
11:06And he's top.
11:07Top three in drives.
11:09Yes.
11:10He and Jalen are both up there.
11:12Yeah, so drives to the basket a ton and doesn't turn it over.
11:16Come on, man.
11:41Brown for the Thunder.
11:42Brown too strong off the window.
11:49Williams the lob.
11:50Hardenstein the jam.
11:51Yeah, it's a double screen.
11:53Hardenstein goes to screen.
11:54Gets behind the defense.
11:56Williams just makes that right read.
12:00Man, we got to, like, we got to go up to a notch.
12:05Well, the Celtics were game against Oklahoma City a couple weeks ago at Paycom Center.
12:10That one went down to the wire.
12:13Hauser still shooting.
12:15I had a hard time believing that Dagmoth decided to leave Hauser wide open.
12:20But that's what it looks like he's doing right now.
12:23If Tatum can get himself going in the mix against Williams, steps through.
12:28Out to Hauser.
12:29Late shot clock.
12:31Brown didn't get the bounce.
12:33Gilgis Alexander emerges with the pill.
12:36SGA, the bounce.
12:38Holmgren blocked by Tata.
12:40What a recovery from Namish Tata.
12:43White dealing with the physicality.
12:46Sets it up for Tatum.
12:47That's a great push.
12:48One transition basket.
12:50And Dagmoth says timeout.
12:54First timeout of the game.
12:55Thunder by seven midway through.
12:57A lot of excitement inside TD Garden.
12:59Celtics down seven at the moment.
13:01Drew said it off the top.
13:03Tonight, game number 73 is the first time all season long the Oklahoma City is whole.
13:09They have their entire rotation healthy and available.
13:12Keep that in mind when you look at these numbers.
13:14The electric moment is presented by Audi.
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13:19OKC riding a 12-game win streak.
13:21Already has the best record in the league.
13:24They're three games up on Wemby and the Spurs in the West.
13:27They have five more wins than the best team in the East.
13:30They're beating teams by double digits on average.
13:33And oh, by the way, have the best scoring margin on the road ever.
13:38In NBA history.
13:39That is insane.
13:40Even for the reigning champs.
13:42Mark Dagnalt, their head coach, couldn't contain his excitement pregame to have his entire team available for this game.
13:50And this one in particular.
13:51He told us, you know, it's funny when I say this, but we're still learning about our team.
13:56And so these types of games are the ones we want to be playing in.
13:59Because you get accurate feedback in a relevant environment.
14:03Which to me, in layman's terms, means they're going to learn a lot about their team here tonight.
14:09And Abby, Mark Dagnalt, the Lemonster native, his family has owned the restaurant Il Camino, an Italian joint over in
14:17Lemonster for a long time.
14:18I'm sure his parents are in the house somewhere.
14:21But what a job he has done.
14:23Replaced Billy Donovan and now Mark Dagnalt in year six as Oklahoma City's head coach.
14:28That's the midway point of the first quarter.
14:30Hugo Gonzalez getting some early burn and he puts in a three.
14:33That's going to be a huge part of this Celtic offense.
14:35They are sitting in the lap.
14:37But Brown, they've been doing it when Tatum was on the floor.
14:40They're leaving guys wide open.
14:42Shireman and Pritchard also in there off the bench.
14:46And the Thunder will throw some unique defense at you.
14:50We saw that last year when Oklahoma City came in and Mark Dagnalt switched what they were doing at halftime.
14:55Yeah.
14:56They guarded the three-point shooters in the first half.
14:58Then they stopped in the second half.
14:59And it worked.
15:01Kata.
15:02Ugo nearly had the offensive board.
15:05Caruso wards him off.
15:07Alex Caruso, one of the best role players in the league.
15:09A two-time champion.
15:12Holger in the step back.
15:13That is tough right there.
15:14Seven foot one.
15:15Oh, and Chet tells the front row, Gucci Rowe, to quiet down.
15:21Gucci Rowe, that's what we're calling it.
15:25We're going to call it Louis Rowe or what do you want to call it?
15:29It sounds pretty fitting to me.
15:32Kaysen Wallace, another elite defender, fouls Brown before the pass.
15:41All right, take a look.
15:42Watch the way they're guarding Ugo Gonzalez as those two wrestled.
15:45I mean, look at him.
15:46He's wide open.
15:47And watch when Jalen Brown goes to the basket.
15:50Look at the...
15:51I mean, that is just like what Oklahoma City is deciding to do.
15:54Guys deep in the corner, they want to stop Brown.
15:58They want to stop Tatum.
16:00The rest of these guys are going to have to make shots.
16:05That's been an issue for the season these last two games.
16:12Pritchard woke up in the second half in Oklahoma City a couple of weeks ago.
16:17Three to shoot.
16:18Pritchard loves this spot.
16:19That's a three.
16:20Wow.
16:21Peyton Pritchard beating the buzzer.
16:24He's unbelievable.
16:26Dude just checked in.
16:31Well, Gonzalez and Pritchard both hit from downtown.
16:34And Jalen Williams from Arkansas is the answer.
16:36Yeah, he was great down in Oklahoma City.
16:38Knocking down three.
16:39The energy plays.
16:40Very good passer.
16:44Another amazing pick by Sam Presti.
16:47Second round pick a couple of years ago.
16:53There's J.B. still scoreless.
16:56Off the rim.
16:57Rebound Jalen Williams.
16:58They call that one J. Will.
17:00They call the other one J. Dub.
17:04As Wallace goes to the rim and gets fouled by Pritchard.
17:07All right, so Pritchard is up against the shot clock right here.
17:12Comes in, steps back.
17:13Cason Wallace, one of the best defenders in the league.
17:17Easy money.
17:22That's what he does.
17:29Comforts of home presented by Bernie and Phil.
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17:37I mentioned Mark Dagnolte, Massachusetts native from nearby Lemonster.
17:44So him and Sam Presti, they're both Massachusetts guys.
17:48When you have guys from the Commonwealth leading the way, you have success.
17:53Yeah, is that how it works?
17:54Man, I was talking to some Oklahoma City fans.
17:56Presti has that Jedi mind trick over them too, man.
17:59He's brainwashed all of them.
18:01I mean, can you blame them?
18:03They've had a lot of success.
18:04Caruso trying to euro, but who goes from euro?
18:07He saw that coming.
18:09Great defense from Gonzalez.
18:15Jalen Brown fouled by Caruso.
18:17Really?
18:18Really?
18:18Nothing.
18:19Just an out-of-bounds.
18:21No foul.
18:22What?
18:22Can't challenge a non-call.
18:25I mean, you could hear that slap from Lemonster.
18:28Yeah, I could hear the slap.
18:32Oh, my gosh.
18:33Wow.
18:35Jalen Brown's thinking, that's what we're on today?
18:39Luca Garza for free.
18:42I was hanging out at the practice facility, watching Luca Garza go through his shooting routine.
18:48He's a high-percentage shooter.
18:52Really got the block, but Wallace hit the shot.
18:58Luca, a good shooter and a maniacal worker, right?
19:01Yeah, he's just running all over the place, knocking down threes.
19:05Brown, physicality, out to Shireman.
19:1010 to shoot for Pritchard.
19:12Under three to play in the first.
19:14Navigating, still has the rock, steps through, didn't get the bounce.
19:18Ugo, the offensive rebound.
19:21Pritchard, trapped under there.
19:23Brown fires.
19:28We're playing hard, but we don't have great spacing.
19:32I feel like we're a little bit sped up.
19:41And that is a guy who has never sped up.
19:44Yeah, he is automatic from that mid-range.
19:48Timeout, Joe Missoula with the Celtics down nine.
19:54Energy to TD Garden.
19:56Visit Celtics.com slash ticks to find tickets.
20:00All right, let's watch Oklahoma City.
20:02There's a big difference between their offense and ours right now.
20:04Go ahead and run it.
20:06All right, stop it right there.
20:08Look at this.
20:09I mean, this is SJ.
20:10This is the best player in the world.
20:12He's an MVP.
20:13Look how much space he has.
20:15What does he do?
20:15Go ahead.
20:16Gets to it.
20:17Steps back.
20:18It's one guy, one-on-one.
20:20So now when you're watching Jalen Brown or Jason Tatum play,
20:23when they have the ball, you're going to see a guy active,
20:27coming into their airspace.
20:29And they're not going to have a clean look at anything.
20:31Now, they are giving up the wide-open three, and we're not.
20:35But as of right now, their star player has a lot more space to work.
20:40That was a beautiful illustration, Scal.
20:42Thank you for that.
20:44I'll tell you what.
20:45You're having a good broadcast today.
20:49Thanks, man.
20:49There's Caruso on the steal and the slam.
20:53So that's where Jason Tatum, like, I know you're trying to get off the ball,
20:58but it's time for you to go to work.
21:00Get some space and create it.
21:03Another turnover.
21:04Thunder dominant in the turnover margin.
21:07By far the best in the league in that category.
21:09SGA draws three.
21:11Mitchell peels it back out.
21:13He's had a breakout second season in the NBA because of plays like that.
21:17Yeah, all these guys are looking for their matchup.
21:20They all get to the right location.
21:22So it's just got to go somewhere else.
21:24They've got to keep raising up their level.
21:26I think we're not matching where they're at.
21:30Tatum, the extra pass.
21:32Shireman has it skid off the rim.
21:35Luka Garza, just an animal on the board.
21:37And that's the type of energy plays that the Cs are going to need.
21:43Keeping that ball alive, Ugo got a tap on it.
21:48Keeping the ball alive right there, Ugo challenging it.
21:51Finds Garza.
21:53Garza got those soft hands, and he's relentless.
21:59Already five points for Luka Garza.
22:03He had a three.
22:04Can't convert the end one.
22:07It'll be Mitchell running the show for the Thunder.
22:10It's the Celtics have Pritchard, Gonzalez, Garza, Tatum, and Shireman on the floor.
22:15Coming up on a minute left in the opening quarter.
22:20Pritchard trying to deal with SGA.
22:22There is Ugo shaded over.
22:24Leads to an open Mitchell three that rattles out.
22:27You notice the difference there?
22:29Huge.
22:30If that's an adjustment, we'll see how that goes.
22:32But they gave up that shot to A.J. Mitchell.
22:36Garza can't cash out.
22:38Caruso rebounds it.
22:41Ugo will take a turn on SGA.
22:44Look at Baylor Shireman.
22:45He's, like, closing off that gap.
22:47See, it looks a lot different than it did before the timeout.
22:53SGA pulls up anyway.
22:54That's too strong.
22:56Tatum the rebound.
22:56See if the Celtics try to rush it for a two-for-one.
23:00Good adjustment by Joe out of the timeout.
23:03No gaps.
23:04No open space for SGA.
23:10Tatum the screener.
23:12Trying to post up the smaller Mitchell.
23:14With four on the 24, Tatum steps through.
23:17Nearly banked at home, but he got fouled.
23:23All right, so Tatum got the matchup he wanted.
23:26Got A.J. Mitchell on him.
23:28Pretty good defense, but he steps through, and there's that hit by Caruso.
23:33Well, they got the foul on Mitchell.
23:35Oh, they did.
23:35I think it should have been on Caruso.
23:41But it puts J.T. at the line.
23:42You saw 16 points Sunday in the loss to Minnesota.
23:45All of them came after halftime.
23:4813 in the third, and then three in the fourth as the Wolves pulled away.
23:53And the Wolves, that game, they look so much faster than what we're used to seeing Minnesota play.
24:02Like, you know, like when Anthony Edwards, they play a little bit slower.
24:05It's like, I was a little floored by Bones Highland, and Io DeSumo pushing the ball.
24:15Okay, we'll go with the pressure at SGA at half court.
24:19Yeah, so it's kind of foul to give.
24:20Yes, they did, so it'll be side out for Oklahoma City.
24:23Hugo Gonzalez, his first, first in the last two minutes.
24:32For Oklahoma City, number 11.
24:34Isaiah Joe gets his first run, a dangerous shooter.
24:3941% from deep on the year.
24:42Kayson Wallace also in.
24:48With Jalen Williams to inbound.
24:52Five seconds left.
24:54Mitchell on the drive, like a running back to the basket.
24:57That was tough.
24:58Find Pritchard.
25:00Pritchard time from beyond half court.
25:06Impressive first quarter by Oklahoma City.
25:09Celtics now, after that first round, they'll know where they need to bring their level.
25:14OKC shot 52% from the floor.
25:17The Celtics just 29%.
25:19Thunder by 11 after one.
25:21Work to do for the Seas.
25:26Check out the scoreboard brought to you by Toyota's official website for deals.
25:29Buyatoyota.com.
25:31It's got the thunder on top of the Celtics by 11 on what was a beautiful Wednesday here in Boston.
25:38Let's check the stats by Jason Stone Injury Lawyers.
25:41Official injury law firm of the Boston Celtics.
25:43Injured?
25:44Better phone stone.
25:45Points off turnovers in the field goal percentage.
25:48Got to keep our eye out on our field goal percentage.
25:50Got to make shots to beat this team.
25:54Right back on the floor to open this second.
25:58Pritchard defended by Isaiah Joe.
26:00Late shot clock.
26:02Kata came soaring in, but Jared McCain emerges with a rebound.
26:06Picked up from Philly at the deadline.
26:08Here is Joe.
26:10That's no good.
26:13Three rebounds already for Tatum.
26:18And it leads to a score.
26:22That's what I'm talking about.
26:24In transition, you don't have to wait around.
26:27Go to work.
26:33JT working around the screen.
26:34It frees up Williams.
26:36Kind of had a little bit more resistance than that.
26:45They double Tatum out of the pick and roll.
26:48Kata finds a cutting Pritchard right back to Nehmey.
26:52Bit of a clunky give and go, but it leads to a foul.
26:57So, remember, last year, Tatum in that short, he would give the ball up to that guy in the middle.
27:03That would be Luke Cornett.
27:05We haven't had a lot of that this time.
27:09Simple trip, but they got him on the shot.
27:12Nice.
27:12Two shots out of it.
27:14Tatum gets trapped.
27:14Gives it up to the middleman, Luke Cornett.
27:17Short roll.
27:18We just haven't had that play so far this season.
27:23So, it's something they have to work on because it was the second best two-man play behind Jokic and
27:28Jamal Murray.
27:31And I think Kata has improved in a short roll position.
27:35You think we'll see a lot of teams trapping Tatum in the playoffs?
27:38They haven't done it yet.
27:39That was, like, almost like the first time I've seen someone hard blitz Jason Tatum.
27:43But, to me, looking at it, Mark Dagnon's basically saying,
27:47you have two star players.
27:49We're going to make everybody else beat us.
27:59McCain, quick release.
28:01Air ball.
28:01Out of all, solid ball.
28:08With a full, healthy roster, I'm actually surprised he's in there.
28:14Yeah, that's the challenge if you're Mark Dagnon, is this team is so loaded.
28:19Who do you leave on the bench?
28:21Who do you leave on the bench?
28:25Fox Taylor-Williams, he goes.
28:27And Tatum finds the open man, and Kata finishes it off.
28:31Love what I'm seeing right now in the second quarter from Jason Tatum.
28:38AJ Mitchell operating.
28:40Taken away by Tatum.
28:43Just the second Oklahoma City turnover.
28:47What a good play!
28:57White.
29:02Isaiah Joe, the C's part for him.
29:04He goes all the way.
29:05Isaiah Joe.
29:17Oklahoma City leads the league in points off of turnovers, more than 22 per game.
29:24That'll stay here.
29:30All right, let's go back.
29:31Jason Tatum attacking away from the help.
29:34Finds Kata.
29:35Kata finishes.
29:36We're gonna need more of that.
29:38Kata goes to the bench.
29:39Interesting.
29:41Small stint.
29:42Small stint, but he was aggressive.
29:45Jamie Brown's gonna need to be aggressive.
29:48It's like, if you know you're getting double teamed, you still, you cannot be passive.
29:53You still have to attack as much as you can.
29:57Probably gotta give it up, but you gotta be aggressive.
30:03Here's Brown.
30:040 for 5 start.
30:06Short corner jumper.
30:08Off the mark.
30:09Here comes Lou Dort.
30:11Celtics shooting just 30% as a team.
30:15Thunder and Celtics top two field goal percentage defenses in the NBA.
30:20Also top two in scoring defense.
30:22Pritchard pesters Williams.
30:24Leads to a steal for Brown.
30:26Right to the rack for his first two.
30:28Little bit of defense turning in some easy buckets.
30:32Remember, Oklahoma City's hard to score against.
30:39McCain slithers into the paint.
30:41Too strong on a jumper.
30:42Pritchard the rebound.
30:43See if the Celtics try to hustle again.
30:50Brown matched up with the big man Hardenstein.
30:53Takes him to the dance floor.
30:55A slide drive.
30:56Lost the handle.
30:59Brown did so much for the Celtics in that first meeting in Oklahoma City.
31:03At 34 points.
31:04Six points.
31:05Seven assists.
31:05Did have six turnovers though.
31:15McCain sling.
31:16Grabbed Peyton Pritchard with his left hand.
31:19Nice move.
31:22Mark Dagnato's already gone 11 deep.
31:25That's crazy.
31:31White turns the corner and banks it in.
31:33His first bucket.
31:35You're going to also meet Derrick White.
31:36He's going to be in that conversation as well.
31:38They're going to be sitting in the lap of Brown and not leaving him and Tatum.
31:42White's going to have to have a few easy ones.
31:48Fouls on Hardenstein.
31:49That's his second Celtics ball.
31:52All right.
31:52I look like he grabbed Pritchard with his left hand.
31:55There he goes.
31:56Oh, he grabbed his lower leg.
31:59That's smart.
32:01That's a good look from the dunking cam.
32:03It's all about the dunk.
32:05All right.
32:05So Tatum returns.
32:07Short rest for him.
32:09Pritchard sits.
32:09That was interesting.
32:10Maybe he asked for a sub.
32:12He went to the rack.
32:13Went to the rack.
32:14Made the pass.
32:15Maybe he said, I need a little break.
32:17That's weird.
32:17That was a weird sub.
32:18You have to admit that.
32:27Brown got doored on his hip.
32:29And off.
32:30Come on.
32:33He's grabbing and holding.
32:36Are you going to call that?
32:38Who's going to ignore all the other grabs?
32:45I mean, in a box, in a vacuum, it's an offensive foul.
32:49But he missed all the other ones.
32:52You see that a lot with Oklahoma City.
32:56That's Tatum, the rep.
32:58Got it back from Dorton.
33:00Into Joe.
33:01It's a block.
33:03Third foul on the Thunder in the quarter.
33:05Still none on the Celtics.
33:08That's his first.
33:09Tatum in transition.
33:13Yeah, that's an easy call.
33:15Good job.
33:15Good to see Tatum.
33:17Back out there with that short rest.
33:19Celtics chipping away.
33:24Welcome back.
33:25Midway through the second quarter.
33:26Celtics down seven.
33:27Here's to the tours presented by Honeydew.
33:30Level up your coffee game with Crazy Caramel.
33:32The Celtics are going to have to level up if they want to hold on to that number two seed
33:35in the East.
33:36Currently in a virtual tie with the Knicks.
33:38The remaining schedule is one of the hardest in the league.
33:41If not, maybe the hardest.
33:43Just this week, they play Atlanta twice.
33:44The Hawks, who have won 13 of their last 14.
33:4711 straight at home.
33:49While Charlotte remains one of the hottest teams in the league.
33:52Winners of 12 of their last 15 games.
33:54Recently, I got a chance to ask Jalen Brown how he's looking at the standings.
33:58If he maybe wanted to work up to that number one spot.
34:01He told me all we care about is us.
34:04That is our sole focus.
34:05We want to keep getting better.
34:07Of course, we want to get as many wins as possible.
34:09But for us, it's about building our flow and our chemistry.
34:12And we still have a ways to go to do that.
34:14So he told me the most important thing is to focus on us.
34:17And JT hitting threes from the top of the key doesn't hurt.
34:21Yeah, we got to focus on our making shots.
34:24I like the way we responded in the second quarter.
34:29And in case you're wondering, the tiebreaker scenario.
34:33Celtics and Knicks.
34:34The C's need to beat the Knicks at MSG in a couple of weeks.
34:37And then you'd start going down the line.
34:39Probably to conference record.
34:40Where New York has a game and a half advantage right now.
34:44Holmgren on the drive and finish.
34:49The Knicks have won seven in a row.
34:50I mean, the Celtics need to continue to win to keep pace.
35:00Tatum.
35:00Oh, look at that.
35:01Oh, man.
35:03That bump was a series.
35:06That bump hit check.
35:08He just froze.
35:10Tatum is locked in.
35:12Hasn't missed.
35:1212 points already.
35:14McCain gets two over here.
35:16Come on, Jamie.
35:17Get into space.
35:22Tatum again in that pick and roll.
35:24Kick it out, Houser.
35:26Right back to Tatum.
35:28He is operating.
35:30Hand on the wheel of this Celtics offense.
35:32Skip it over to Brown.
35:34Yes, sir.
35:35J to J for three.
35:37Oh, Mark Degma not happy.
35:39What a response from the seed in the crowd.
35:44Loving it.
35:50Celtics dot com slash waitlist to learn more about joining the season ticket member waitlist presented by TD.
35:56All right.
35:57Jason Tatum second quarter.
35:58He's already got eight points.
36:00Two assists.
36:00Two steals.
36:01Three of three on the board.
36:02Take a look.
36:03Hit the step back.
36:05Silky smooth.
36:06Here he is getting downhill.
36:08Pass it over to Keita who finished his.
36:10I like this one as well.
36:12Showing aggression.
36:13There's that little step back off the pick and roll.
36:15You want to see more two man game with Tatum.
36:18And then they hit Chet Holgren.
36:20Freeze him.
36:21And the assist over to JB.
36:23Wide open three.
36:26Good run by JT.
36:30The Celtics have cut it to three.
36:33OKC's largest lead was 13.
36:35Shakey'll just Alexander back in the game gets wherever he wants.
36:44We got to do a better job of showing hell.
36:47Like no one can stay in front of that guy.
36:49We got to do a better job.
36:50He can't get a layup out of the timeout.
36:53That's Tatum's first miss of the night had been four for four.
37:00SGA a plus 13 in the game.
37:04And he adds three to it.
37:07He's five for six from the field.
37:09Two for three from downtown.
37:1012 points.
37:15Now defending Brown.
37:18Out to White for three.
37:20There you go.
37:22And those guys are going to have to make Oklahoma City pay for loading up on our star players.
37:28That's Hauser.
37:29White.
37:30Ugo.
37:33Dork left alone in the corner.
37:36He missed the shot.
37:36Jalen Brown the rebound.
37:38The Celtics going with a small lineup right now.
37:45Holmberg in the lone dig on the floor for Oklahoma City.
37:49They do have Jalen Williams from Arkansas in there.
37:52Wallace was basically doubling JT.
37:55And White hits the open shot.
37:56This is how it's going to be.
37:58That was insane.
38:00There were two guys in front of Jason Tatum.
38:04Daring Derek White to beat you.
38:07We'll see how that strategy works for him.
38:15SGA changing direction.
38:17Dork just missed one from that corner.
38:19Oh yeah!
38:20Blocked by Jason Tatum!
38:24Brown sets it up for White.
38:26Back to JB.
38:27Seltz-Kintyre take the lead.
38:35And Jason Tatum is dominating this second quarter.
38:43Wallace too strong.
38:47Joe Mazzula ends up with the ball.
38:50All right.
38:50Tatum comes over on the defensive end.
38:54Look at that.
38:55That's our five man.
38:58And take a look.
38:59That's one, two, three guys sitting in his lap.
39:03If you want to win this game,
39:04you're going to have to make shots from outside.
39:06Right now, something.
39:07Nine of twenty from three.
39:10That's forty-five percent.
39:12That'll get it done.
39:18Tatum gets involved in the action.
39:20Holmgren switched on to him.
39:23Ten to shoot.
39:24One-on-one with Holmgren.
39:26Tatum in the mix.
39:31Out of bounds.
39:32Last touch by White.
39:37The Celtics going with this small lineup,
39:39but they'll check Namesh Keita back into the game.
39:48Caruso all alone.
39:50Jalen Brown was face guarding SGA at half court.
39:58Here's JB.
40:00Here's JB.
40:00Poked away.
40:01Gilgis Alexander.
40:04Here's a message from FanDuel.
40:06The Celtics going with the three.
40:09Boom.
40:10Bang.
40:10Count it.
40:11Oh.
40:12What?
40:13Let's get that out of here.
40:14Bucket.
40:15Bucket.
40:16What?
40:17Let's go.
40:18New customers get up to 300 back in bonus bets every day for ten days if your bets don't win.
40:28Tatum was supposed to work against Wallace.
40:30Four to shoot.
40:39SGA has now scored 20 plus in 132 consecutive games.
40:44Broke the record against the Celtics a couple weeks ago.
40:48Caruso, that's in and out.
40:53Brown, nice move.
40:54Steps through.
40:55And scores!
40:56That was amazing.
40:59I could be a star player playing against three guys.
41:02I got you.
41:06Eight points in a row for the Celtics.
41:10SGA flails and gets the call, but it's on the floor.
41:15Watch Jalen Brown.
41:18Cannot be denied.
41:19Goes through one.
41:21Splits another one.
41:22And scores over another.
41:25That's tough.
41:32Called it on the ground.
41:40Come on, JB!
41:48Mitchell drive, kick.
41:50Wallace.
41:51Missed the shot.
41:52Kata high points the rebound as the Celtics have their center back in there.
42:00Seas have not led tonight.
42:03Can change that right here.
42:06Brown rises up.
42:09Taps it out.
42:11Pritchard!
42:12Oh, yeah!
42:13He can't!
42:16Pritchard!
42:17The three!
42:30Wallace ends the run.
42:33Sign me up, man.
42:34Sign me up in June.
42:37Sign me up for this.
42:43Tatum's getting a call.
42:45Tatum's getting a call.
42:45Mitchell went down and Tatum is furious.
42:49Tatum saying he got pushed into the screen.
42:53That's his first personal line.
42:55We'll see.
42:58If Caruso pushed him in to Mitchell, oh, it was too late.
43:06And on the decisive foul in Oklahoma City with under a second left where Chet Holmgren got hit.
43:11The door sort of pushed Sam Hauser into him.
43:16Two-for-one opportunity for Oklahoma City.
43:19If Mitchell goes quickly, just puts it up and Kata wipes it away, but the basket does.
43:24Can I see that again?
43:25I don't think that made it to the backboard.
43:26I don't think it did either.
43:28And it was still going up.
43:31I...
43:31Yeah, this is a challenge-able call.
43:33Yeah, it goes all over it.
43:35Because it was tipped on the way up.
43:41Timo.
43:42Timo.
43:42Yeah!
43:45Well, it's a bummer that Joe has to burn a challenge here, but we feel pretty good about this one.
43:51We'll have the call when you come back.
43:59Timo to use the coach's challenge on the last call on the court of goaltending.
44:09Bring it back!
44:25Three place there has to affirm your own court decision.
44:28As personally correctly judged goaltending.
44:30Score to go the basket.
44:58Here at the Garden.
44:59And surprisingly, Mark Davis just made the announcement.
45:03And the call stands as goaltending.
45:08No, that's not the call.
45:11The call is Derek White tipped the ball on the way up.
45:15So once a guy touches the ball, it's a live ball.
45:20We just lost our challenge.
45:24It's almost like pass interference in football.
45:27If the ball is tipped at the line of scrimmage, and you can hit again.
45:30That's what Derek White was saying.
45:31He's like, I tipped the ball.
45:34The challenge did not take very long to adjudicate.
45:37Quite too strong.
45:39Oklahoma City, by virtue of the goaltend, has the lead and the ball.
45:43Can take the final shot of the half.
45:45Come on, Dean!
45:47Shut it down, Dean White!
45:49Gildas Alexander, the kick.
45:51Holmgren, corner three.
45:53And Dort cleans it up.
45:56Is it Pritchard time?
45:58Not Tatum time!
46:03What a first half for JT.
46:05That goaltend sort of took the wind out of our sails, but I love the way we responded in the
46:10second quarter.
46:12Stay tuned for Celtics' Halftime Live with Giles and Eddie.
46:15It's presented by DraftKings Sportsbook, and they're in the house up on the concourse here at the Garden.
46:20But the Thunder opened up a 13-point lead.
46:22Celtics got it all the way down to a tie game, thanks in large part to Jason Tatum, dominating the
46:28second quarter.
46:29It's OKC by four at recess.
46:32Stick around the halftime show from here at the Garden next.
46:38ITD, back here at the Garden.
46:40We got ourselves a good one.
46:41Thunder lead by four as we start the third quarter.
46:44Welcome you back courtside.
46:46And, Scal, I mean, you said it in the first half.
46:48You signed me up for more of that in June, huh?
46:50No question.
46:50It's a great game, but Celtics are 8 of 18 in the paint.
46:54Got to do better than that.
46:55Like, our three-point shooting is working at this point.
46:57But we're knocking down threes, and we still have 49 points.
47:01We got to figure out a way to establish our identity in the paint.
47:05Yeah, Celtics have made 10 of 23 threes and still trail by four.
47:09Let's check in with Abby and hear from the coaches at halftime.
47:11What you got, Abby?
47:12Speaking with lead assistant Sam Cassell, the focus in the locker room was on defense.
47:16As you'd expect, Sam telling me they have got to do a better job protecting the rim.
47:21Continue to rebound and win those 50-50 balls.
47:25He said they are doing a great job.
47:27I mean, they've kept SGA off the line.
47:29They've kept Oklahoma City off the line, so keep that in mind.
47:32But defensively, they've got to do a better job protecting the rim.
47:35Abby, did they say anything about offense?
47:39Anything?
47:39I mean, I didn't ask everything they talked about.
47:43But Sam came up to me quickly.
47:45He came out late and said, we have got to do a better job protecting the rim.
47:48You got it.
47:49The Thunder with 22 points in the paint to the Celtics.
47:5216.
47:52That's part of the first half stats by Jason Stone, injury lawyers.
47:56Official injury law firm of the Boston Celtics.
47:58Injured?
47:59Better phone.
47:59It just feels odd that we've made 10 threes and we're down.
48:02Or we scored 49 points after making 10 threes.
48:05Are you going to ask Dick Light to look up the last time that happened?
48:1010 threes in the first half and trailing?
48:1210 threes in the first half and under 50 points.
48:15He's all over it.
48:16Here's Gilchis Alexander.
48:18Sometimes you just have to say, touche.
48:21Gilchis Alexander.
48:26I don't want to gas him up.
48:28This looks so easy for him.
48:33I'll focus on our points in the paint.
48:358 of 18 in the paint.
48:38He's taking a great job at defending that thing.
48:41Now they're second in the league in pain points allowed behind only the Celtics.
48:46Jalen Williams, SGA, White, cut him off.
48:52Williams missed the shot.
48:53By the way, that touche Gilchis Alexander thing, you know who came up with that?
48:56No.
48:57Bill Chisholm.
48:58Touche.
48:59Yeah.
48:59Oh, touche?
49:01Yeah.
49:02That's his line as Jalen Brown puts it in.
49:05All right.
49:06That's a paint point.
49:10The Celtics in the first half, like Scalmention, shooting below 50% in the paint.
49:15What is this guy made of?
49:17Jeez.
49:19He's nails.
49:19He's 7 of 8 from the field.
49:213 for 4 from downtown.
49:2317 points.
49:253 away from 20-plus for the 133rd time in a row.
49:29Hauser.
49:30Hauser.
49:31There we go!
49:32That's a big shot.
49:33There we go.
49:353!
49:36Remember, Hauser was left wide open.
49:38He was 1 of 5 in the first half.
49:46Holmgren the miss.
49:47Here's Brown for Hauser.
49:49He made his first shot, then missed six in a row.
49:52And that makes you, if he gets him going, foul on Lou Dort.
49:56Oklahoma City fouls on number 5, Logan Stork, his first, first team foul.
50:02Somehow the first foul on Lou Dort.
50:04Yeah, so, all right.
50:05Here's what I want to see.
50:06Gravity.
50:07I want to see a player get and force Oklahoma City to be in rotation.
50:12I don't feel like they've been in rotation one time, all game.
50:15Nice.
50:16Ooh, I thought Kato was going to get a dunk.
50:20He said to get it in.
50:22Every, everything they do, it's like, it's just, they're not overreacting or underreacting.
50:35That's why they're the best defense in the league, second year in a row, but a bust there.
50:39White missed the shot.
50:46Jalen Williams to the hole, got the late whistle.
50:50And he'll head to the line.
50:51Really, he's on the floor, but really nice finishing move.
50:55Watch as he goes.
50:56He's kind of had like a pass fake to a finish.
50:59Right there.
51:04We've got to name that.
51:05We've got a slow yo, we've got a euro, we have a de-cell.
51:10It's like a pass fake euro.
51:15We'll come up with something more snappy than that.
51:18Here's a message from Zenny.
51:20Basketball is all about vision.
51:24Seeing things on the court and setting your sights on something bigger.
51:30Clear vision is everything.
51:36You read it because I feel like he's mad at me.
51:38I almost don't believe this.
51:40January 23rd against the Nets.
51:42Same situation for the Celtics.
51:44Made 10 threes, had 49 points and were trailing at halftime.
51:47By six in that game, ended up winning 130 to 126.
51:52130 points for the game, 49 at halftime.
51:56Quicker evidence, and that's 81 points in the second half.
51:59Of course, the Thunder provide a little more resistance than the Nets do.
52:04Hardenstein, the push-up.
52:08Man, they're good.
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