Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 36 and Josh Giddey added a season-high 23 as the Oklahoma City Thunder knocked off the Boston Celtics 127-123 on Tuesday in Oklahoma City.
The victory extended the Thunder’s winning streak to five while snapping the Celtics’ six-game winning streak.
With less than four seconds left, Kristaps Porzingis hit an apparent corner 3 that would’ve cut Oklahoma City’s lead to one.
But Porzingis’ foot was on the line and the shot was ruled a two instead and the Thunder held a 125-123 lead.
Gilgeous-Alexander hit both free throws after being fouled off the inbounds to all but seal the win.
Oklahoma City led by 18 with seven minutes remaining before Boston ripped off 10 consecutive points, thanks in large part to two 3-pointers by Derrick White, to pull within eight with five minutes to play.
But after White assisted on Jayson Tatum’s alley-oop, Thunder rookie big man Chet Holmgren drilled a catch-and-shoot three from the wing to end the run and stabilize the Thunder.
But Boston kept coming, cutting the Thunder’s lead to two with 41 seconds left on another 3-pointer by White. Jalen Williams answered with a jumper and Oklahoma City hit four free throws to hold off the Celtics.
Porzingis led Boston with 34 points and added 10 rebounds. Tatum had 30 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists while White scored 19 points.
The Celtics led by three at halftime but the Thunder quickly jumped ahead, going 16 of 26 (61.5 percent) from the floor and hitting 6 of 9 from beyond the arc as Oklahoma City outscored Boston 40-25 in the third.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 16 and Giddey 11 in the quarter.
Giddey has struggled much of the season but has come on strong of late.
Over the last three games, Giddey is averaging 18.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and five assists while shooting nearly 55 percent from the floor.
Giddey added eight rebounds and six assists Tuesday.
Oklahoma City shot 52.7 percent from the floor, its fourth consecutive game shooting 50 percent or better. It was just the fourth time this season that an opponent shot 50 percent or more against Boston.
–Field Level Media
