GT: Boston Celtics (30-36) @ OKC Thunder (37-30) 8:00pm EST

[Thunderfan86]

Russell Westbrook continues to be under intense pressure now that the Oklahoma City Thunder are even more short-handed.

He'll next face a rare matchup with the defensive-minded Avery Bradley, who has helped the Boston Celtics post their longest win streak in two seasons.

The Thunder have won 10 straight at home against Eastern Conference foes as they look to defeat the Celtics for the fifth straight time Wednesday night.

Westbrook has six triple-doubles in 13 games since the All-Star break to match the rest of the league. He is averaging 32.5 points, 10.8 assists and 10.0 rebounds in that stretch, with an injured Kevin Durant out 12 times in that span.

Oklahoma City center Serge Ibaka has missed the last three games with lingering knee soreness and could be sidelined the rest of the season after having an arthroscopic procedure on his knee Tuesday. Thunder general manager Sam Presti said Ibaka will be out four to six weeks.

''A lot of things, a lot of parts are moving right now,'' coach Scott Brooks said. ''Our guys are workers. We're going to figure it out. We always have. We're not going to stop now.''

Ibaka's absence takes away the primary screener for Westbrook on offensive sets, meaning that Steven Adams will be forced to screen more. On 417 screens sets by Ibaka, Westbrook drives or shoots 40.2 percent of the time compared to driving or shooting 48.9 percent of the time on the 321 screens set for him by Adams.

Bradley, who is 0-4 against the Thunder, is known for his defense and has been screened a team-high 859 times as he faces Westbrook for the third time. Westbrook averaged 23.0 points and 4.0 assists in the first two meetings, though both came with Durant.

Oklahoma City (37-30) has allowed 57 points off turnovers in its last two games, including 30 in Monday's 119-115 loss at Dallas. Westbrook is averaging a league-worst 5.8 turnovers since the break and 7.6 in his last five games.

"Thirty points off of our turnovers did not help our cause," Brooks said. "We have to do a better job of taking care of the basketball."

Boston (30-36) is scoring an average of 20.3 points off turnovers since the break for one of the NBA's best marks.

The Celtics have posted the last four victories of their five-game streak without Isaiah Thomas, who remains out with a bruised lower back. Bradley is averaging 15.8 points in that span while Tyler Zeller is averaging 15.3 - 5.4 more than his season average.

Zeller has 44 points on 19-of-25 shooting in the last two games, including a career-high 26-point effort Monday in a 108-89 rout of Philadelphia.

"He's just an amazing player," Bradley said. "I love playing with him, I know everyone else does. He plays hard on both ends of the floor, he brings it every single day."

The Celtics, who haven't won six straight since a seven-game streak Jan. 27-Feb. 10, 2013, have captured 10 of 13 to bolster their playoff hopes. They are in a race with Indiana, Miami, Charlotte and Brooklyn for the final two East berths.

The Thunder, trying to hold off New Orleans and Phoenix for the West's final spot, have won 16 of their last 18 at home and all 10 in Oklahoma City versus the East since a 94-92 defeat to the Nets on Nov. 21.

Looking forward to a good game Celtic fans. :cheers:

[Uncle Drew]

Lots of people sleeping on the Celtics. This will be a close, hard game to say the least. Hell, with Ibaka out, they've got a pretty good chance.

in b4 30pt blow out

[Budadiiii]

Refs already on bullshit.

Dion gets hacked, no call. Ball clearly off Bradley, they give it to the Celtics. :facepalm

[Hittin_Shots]

Refs already on bullshit.

Dion gets hacked, no call. Ball clearly off Bradley, they give it to the Celtics. :facepalm

Wonder how many of your post won't involve refs..

[JohnFreeman]

Gino will make an appearance

[ballup]

Gino will make an appearance
He only appears at home games, pretty sure

[JohnFreeman]

He only appears at home games, pretty sure
My bad thought it was celts home game

[Graviton]

Classic Westbrick night, 1-7 with 4 turnovers and it's only the 1st quarter. This ninja turtle needs to calm the **** down already. :lol

[dubeta]

lets go Celtics :applause:

[ImKobe]

Smart taking over

[navy]

Classic Westbrick night, 1-7 with 4 turnovers and it's only the 1st quarter. This ninja turtle needs to calm the **** down already. :lol
Westbrook either starts fast and ends bad. Or starts bad and ends well.

So that's the good news.

[Thunderfan86]

This shit is so frustrating. :banghead:

[ImKobe]

smart 3 threes in a row + a 15 ft floater

ROY

[Derka]

Noooo basket. Good half, though...be nice to get a few more stops.

[Smoke117]

Great...when I actually want Chuckbrick to do well and beat the Celtics he plays like ass...figures.

[Thunderfan86]

I don't understand why Westbrook feels the need to flop on those wild 3's he throws up. Fvck man

[navy]

I don't understand why Westbrook feels the need to flop on those wild 3's he throws up. Fvck man
Why does a player try to get 3 free throws?

[Thunderfan86]

Why does a player try to get 3 free throws?
You know what the fvck I'm talking about. This dude is blatantly kicking his legs out. Maybe he could try jumping into the defender as opposed to kicking them.

[navy]

Dion Waiters 3-10. Dude just needs to leave.

[ImKobe]

Dion Waiters 3-10. Dude just needs to leave.

he's out there chucking up one bad shot after another, going full speed and not finishing properly, rushing his shot

needs to slow down his game...

[navy]

he's out there chucking up one bad shot after another, going full speed and not finishing properly, rushing his shot

needs to slow down his game...
He needs to stop the crazy layups and just try to dunk it or take on the full contact. No reason to be that bad around the rim.

[Thunderfan86]

It's amazing how many times Waiters gets to the basket without any fouls being called. The refs must hate him.....it seems like they never give him a call. Meanwhile, Westbrook drives the basket and gets a call every time.....it he gets fouled or not.

[Rizko]

smart 3 threes in a row + a 15 ft floater

ROY
I know your joking but it does kinda bug me no one even throws Smart in as an honorable mention. Hes not great or anything but honestly hes been a bit better then I thought it would be.

[Derka]

I don't like the defense so far this half. Tighten this shit up.

[Thunderfan86]

There's no reason to close out on Andre Roberson. These Celtics players should know this already

[Derka]

Kanter just ate Zeller for lunch on both ends :lol

[navy]

It's amazing how many times Waiters gets to the basket without any fouls being called. The refs must hate him.....it seems like they never give him a call. Meanwhile, Westbrook drives the basket and gets a call every time.....it he gets fouled or not.
It's because he yells and 1 all the time

[Thunderfan86]

Too many careless turnovers. This shit can't happen...

[TheMilkyBarKid]

I just started watching this quarter, is smart outplaying russ?

[Derka]

Scal is like...the anti-Tommy :lol

[Bernie Nips]

Whoa, first free throws for Boston 5 minutes into the third quarter. Not saying bad refs, just a crazy happening.

[Derka]

Tough call on Kanter...had he not moved his feet, they might have no-called that one.

[Derka]

Whoa, first free throws for Boston 5 minutes into the third quarter. Not saying bad refs, just a crazy happening.
All jump shots, amigo. They're going to the rim now and getting some whistles.

[Derka]

So tired of pull-up 3s early in the shot clock. And they're even worse when Westbrook beats every green jersey back up the floor :facepalm

[Budadiiii]

Marcus Dumb.

[KDthunderup]

Imagine if we still had Perkins instead of kanter with all these injuries? We would of been royally screwed.

[Hittin_Shots]

Marcus Dumb.

On that bull shit call?

[sd3035]

On that bull shit call?

clearly pushed him, you must be blind or stupid

[Derka]

Let OKC drop 30 on us this quarter. Gotta get some stops in the 4th.

[Derka]

Now that was a shitty call.

And that was a lazy pass.

44% on free throws? Are you kidding me? That's Rondo bad.

[sd3035]

GOATbrook

[Derka]

Stupid stupid stupid foul. This is the stuff that loses games.

[Hittin_Shots]

clearly pushed him, you must be blind or stupid

Guess you guys are used to getting Shit like that.

[Derka]

Six minutes of absolute brain dead play. Jesus.

[sd3035]

Guess you guys are used to getting Shit like that.

wouldn't expect an Australian to know the rules

[Derka]

Gave up 40 that quarter...and we're still jacking up bricks.

[Hittin_Shots]

Can't score, not looking good. Let's go Portland, bulls and spurs.

[Derka]

These are terrible shots.

[Hittin_Shots]

wouldn't expect an Australian to know the rules

Good one mate, that must be it.

[Derka]

Make your free throws.

[dabigbaws]

Adams got a tech for that lol.

[Derka]

Adams is always around on the o-glass. Damn.

[Derka]

9 missed free throws this half. They matter, boys.

[Rizko]

9 missed free throws this half. They matter, boys.
4 in the quarter. Whole different game if they make just those 4.

[Derka]

Solid D by the Thunder there.

Nice little run to cut it close but this one's in the bag. Good game, OKC.

[Hittin_Shots]

We still moved up to 8th seed with Miami breaking the tie and leaving Pacers which we have the tiebreak on.

Let's finish this season strong.

[Thunderfan86]

Good game Celtics :applause:

[Graviton]

Thank you Celtics, they remembered they have to tank after that 1st half. :lol

[Hittin_Shots]

Thank you Celtics, they remembered they have to tank after that 1st half. :lol

Have to tank? We the 8th seed.

[Graviton]

Have to tank? We the 8th seed.
Seriously? East is worse than i thought. :roll:

[Hittin_Shots]

Seriously? East is worse than i thought. :roll:

We came into the game on a 5 game win streak

[Graviton]

We came into the game on a 5 game win streak
I thought Celtics were in tank mode after all the trades, why are they trying so hard? Isn't it better to get a higher pick instead of 1st round exit?

[Hittin_Shots]

I thought Celtics were in tank mode after all the trades, why are they trying so hard? Isn't it better to get a higher pick instead of 1st round exit?

good to have a team used to winning games instead of a perennial loser also. This team goes hard, the FO may have been going the tank but that doesn't mean the players are. Finally exciting to watch. Turnovers and allowing offensive rebounds killed us this game.

[KG215]

Wait, the Celtics managed to move all the way up to 8th? I knew the East sucked ass, but the Celtics are 30-37 and currently in 8th in their conference, but the Thunder at 38-30 are barely in the playoffs right now.

[Hittin_Shots]

Wait, the Celtics managed to move all the way up to 8th? I knew the East sucked ass, but the Celtics are 30-37 and currently in 8th in their conference, but the Thunder at 38-30 are barely in the playoffs right now.

Both teams started the game 9th in conference and ended up 8th after the game.

[lilo]

Wait, the Celtics managed to move all the way up to 8th? I knew the East sucked ass, but the Celtics are 30-37 and currently in 8th in their conference, but the Thunder at 38-30 are barely in the playoffs right now.

WC's 8th place Thunder just player very even game on their own court with EC's 8th place Celtics. Maybe the two conferences are not that different after all?

[bdreason]

Marcus Smart with the game of his young career?


I have him on my fantasy team, and I had to double-take at his stat-line. :oldlol:

[Thunderfan86]

Marcus Smart with the game of his young career?


I have him on my fantasy team, and I had to double-take at his stat-line. :oldlol:
He was going against OKC so it's really nothing new. Nikkas stay getting career highs on us......real talk

[KG215]

He was going against OKC so it's really nothing new. Nikkas stay getting career highs on us......real talk
Yeah, different game same story. Some of it has to do with our perimeter defense being bad, but Boston was making some pretty heavily contested threes tonight, especially the last two minutes of the game.

Smart is shooting 33% from three on 4.1 attempts per game for the season; and he's shooting 29% on 4.5 attempts over his last 10 games. So of course he comes in against OKC tonight and shoots 7-for-12 from three.

[Derka]

I thought Celtics were in tank mode after all the trades, why are they trying so hard? Isn't it better to get a higher pick instead of 1st round exit?
No.

[CarlosBoozer]

Celts got a good coach

[dunksby]

WC's 8th place Thunder just player very even game on their own court with EC's 8th place Celtics. Maybe the two conferences are not that different after all?
Without Durant and Ibaka? Thunder got 38 wins, Boston got 37 losses but they have the same playoff seeding :lol

[Hittin_Shots]

Without Durant and Ibaka? Thunder got 38 wins, Boston got 37 losses but they have the same playoff seeding :lol

May not of been those two but we down two players also :)

[dunksby]

May not of been those two but we down two players also :)
Well for what it's worth, I'd be rooting for the C's to upset ATL in case they win the eighth spot.

[Wally450]

If the Celtics can get a big man that can rebound we'll be in the clear. We already have a bright future. That'll put us over the top.

[Rolando]

If the Celtics can get a big man that can rebound we'll be in the clear. We already have a bright future. That'll put us over the top.

If Sullinger comes back minus 20lbs or so....He could definitely be our rebounding big.

[Derka]

If Sullinger comes back minus 20lbs or so....He could definitely be our rebounding big.
I think if he doesn't shape up, his days in Boston are done. I don't think Danny's scared in the least with the prospect of selling cheap on him, although he'd certainly rather not do it if he can avoid it.