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.

[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.

[Hittin_Shots]

Refs already on bullshit.

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

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.

[dubeta]

lets go Celtics

[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.

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.

[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.