Game ID: 22400946
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Boston Celtics
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at 7:30 PM ET
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
BOS 30 30 28 24 112OKC 33 30 25 30 118
BOS vs OKC ScoutingBOS vs OKC Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
BOS availability going into 3/05 · 2 days' restOUT Holiday missed 2 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Porziņģis missed 2 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Scheierman missed 2 since 2/28, out tonight
BACK Kornet back 2/28 after 2, 25 min since (136% of 18)
BOS availability going into 3/06 · back-to-backOUT Holiday missed 3 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Porziņģis missed 3 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Scheierman missed 3 since 2/28, returns tonight: 30 min (257% of 12)
BACK Kornet back 2/28 after 2, 24 min since (132% of 18)
NEW Horford 28 to 34 min over the last 4
NEW Hauser 21 to 28 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 4 since 2/28, returns tonight: 35 min (112% of 31)
OUT Porziņģis missed 4 since 2/28, out tonight
BACK Kornet back 2/28 after 2, 26 min since (143% of 18)
BACK Scheierman back 3/06 after 3, 30 min since (257% of 12)
NEW Horford 28 to 34 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 3/10 · 1 day's restOUT Porziņģis missed 5 since 2/28, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 3/08 after 4, 35 min since (112% of 31)
BACK Kornet back 2/28 after 2, 23 min since (126% of 18)
BACK Scheierman back 3/06 after 3, 30 min since (257% of 12)
NEW Horford 28 to 35 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT Porziņģis missed 6 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Norris missed 2 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 3/08 after 4, 33 min since (107% of 31)
BACK Scheierman back 3/06 after 3, 21 min since (181% of 12)
NEW Horford 28 to 35 min over the last 3
NEW Kornet 18 to 25 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restOUT Porziņģis missed 7 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Norris missed 3 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 3/08 after 4, 34 min since (109% of 31)
BACK Scheierman back 3/06 after 3, 21 min since (181% of 12)
NEW Horford 28 to 34 min over the last 3
BOS availability going into 3/15 · back-to-backOUT Porziņģis missed 8 since 2/28, returns tonight: 32 min (116% of 27)
OUT Norris missed 4 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Scheierman missed 2 since 3/12, returns tonight: 11 min (93% of 12)
BACK Holiday back 3/08 after 4, 34 min since (110% of 31)
NEW Horford 28 to 34 min over the last 3
NEW Queta 13 to 21 min over the last 3
BOS availability going into 3/18 · 2 days' restOUT Norris missed 5 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Craig missed 2 since 3/14, returns tonight: 8 min (80% of 10)
BACK Holiday back 3/08 after 4, 35 min since (113% of 31)
BACK Porziņģis back 3/15 after 8, 32 min since (116% of 27)
BACK Scheierman back 3/15 after 2, 11 min since (93% of 12)
NEW Horford 28 to 34 min over the last 3
BOS availability going into 3/21 · 2 days' restOUT Norris missed 6 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Porziņģis back 3/15 after 8, 30 min since (112% of 27)
BACK Scheierman back 3/15 after 2, 13 min since (115% of 12)
BACK Craig back 3/18 after 2, 8 min since (80% of 10)
OKC availability going into 3/05 · 1 day's restOUT Joe missed 2 since 3/02, returns tonight: 16 min (82% of 19)
OUT Mitchell missed 27 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Jay. Williams back 2/24 after 2, 12 min since (80% of 14)
NEW Wallace 26 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Wiggins 21 to 27 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 3/07 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 28 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Joe back 3/05 after 2, 16 min since (82% of 19)
NEW Wiggins 21 to 27 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 3/09 · 1 day's restOUT Holmgren missed 2 since 3/05, returns tonight: 26 min (91% of 28)
OUT Mitchell missed 29 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Joe back 3/05 after 2, 25 min since (130% of 19)
NEW Wiggins 21 to 27 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 3/10 · back-to-backOUT Mitchell missed 30 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Holmgren back 3/09 after 2, 26 min since (91% of 28)
BACK Joe back 3/05 after 2, 21 min since (109% of 19)
NEW Wiggins 21 to 26 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 31 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Holmgren back 3/09 after 2, 27 min since (96% of 28)
BACK Joe back 3/05 after 2, 20 min since (103% of 19)
OKC availability going into 3/15 · 2 days' restOUT Mitchell missed 32 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Holmgren back 3/09 after 2, 30 min since (104% of 28)
BACK Joe back 3/05 after 2, 21 min since (108% of 19)
NEW Dort 29 to 34 min over the last 4
OKC availability going into 3/16 · back-to-backOUT Jal. Williams missed 2 since 3/12, out tonight
OUT Mitchell missed 33 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Holmgren back 3/09 after 2, 30 min since (104% of 28)
NEW Joe 19 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW K. Williams 15 to 22 min over the last 4
OKC availability going into 3/19 · 2 days' restOUT Jal. Williams missed 3 since 3/12, out tonight
OUT Mitchell missed 34 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Holmgren back 3/09 after 2, 31 min since (109% of 28)
OKC availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT Jal. Williams missed 4 since 3/12, out tonight
OUT Dort missed 2 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Mitchell missed 35 since 1/05, out tonight
NEW Joe 19 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW K. Williams 15 to 24 min over the last 4
NEW Jay. Williams 14 to 20 min over the last 4
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 107, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Tatum at 30 and Brown at 24 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Porziņģis (6 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 39 and Jal. Williams at 20 a game. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-4 a night and OKC minus-4. Call it Boston 115, OKC 113, OKC keeping it close.
3/05 vs POR 128-118 — BOS notes
BOS won 128-118. BOS shot 46% (45 of 97) to POR's 50%, 23 of 54 from three. The glass went 52-39 for them. Pritchard led with 43 (14 of 20, 10 of 16 from three); White added 41, Brown 18. The hinge was Q3, 36-27: a lead of 11 became 20, and the lead reached 25. Brown was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
3/06 vs PHI 123-105 — BOS notes
BOS won 123-105. BOS shot 51% (46 of 91) to PHI's 42%, 19 of 48 from three. BOS turned it over 10 times to PHI's 15. Tatum led with 35 (14 of 23, 5 of 11 from three); Pritchard added 19, Scheierman 15. The hinge was Q1, 35-24: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 30. Kornet was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
3/08 vs LAL 111-101 — BOS notes
BOS won 111-101. BOS shot 48% (40 of 84) to LAL's 45%, 13 of 38 from three, and went to the line 25 times to LAL's 14 — 18 points from the stripe to their 9. Tatum led with 40 (12 of 28, 6 of 16 from three, 10 of 12 at the line); Brown added 31, Horford 14. The hinge was Q3, 29-13: a lead of 4 became 20. White was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
3/10 vs UTA 114-108 — BOS notes
BOS won 114-108. BOS shot 43% (40 of 93) to UTA's 45%, 18 of 53 from three, and went to the line 18 times to UTA's 12 — 16 points from the stripe to their 9. Hauser led with 33 (11 of 23, 9 of 19 from three); Brown added 26, White 18. The hinge was Q3, 37-22: a lead of 6 became 21, and the lead reached 24. Brown was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
3/12 vs OKC 112-118 — BOS notes
BOS lost 112-118. BOS took 12 more shots (94 to 82), fed by 15 offensive rebounds, but shot 44% to OKC's 49%, 20 of 63 from three, and got to the line just 12 times against 25 fouls committed. Tatum led with 33 (12 of 23, 4 of 13 from three); White added 22, Horford 18. Q3 was theirs, 28-25, the deficit cut from 3 to 0, but the other 3 periods went 93-84 against them. Holiday's -14 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/14 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 111, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Herro at 24 and Adebayo at 23 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Jović (10 straight), Burks (4 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 110, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 17 free throws a game; Tatum at 36 and Brown at 21 a game. Without Porziņģis (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-2 a night and Miami minus-4. Call it Boston 112, Miami 110, Miami keeping it close.
3/15 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Thomas at 22 and C. Johnson at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Evbuomwan (8 straight), Etienne (5 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 105, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 16 free throws a game; Tatum at 34 and Brown at 22 a game. Without Porziņģis (8 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been minus-0 a night and Brooklyn minus-6 and the defense, Boston allowing 105 a night to Brooklyn's 112. Call it Boston 111, Brooklyn 109, Brooklyn keeping it close.
3/18 vs BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 106, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 17 free throws a game; Tatum at 30 and Brown at 19 a game. 2 days' rest. Brooklyn comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; C. Johnson at 20 and K. Johnson at 13 a game. Without Thomas (2 straight), Evbuomwan (10 straight), Clowney (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Brooklyn at 40 percent from three to Boston's 34 and the defense, Boston allowing 106 a night to Brooklyn's 112. Call it Boston 114, Brooklyn 107.
3/21 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 120, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Sexton at 18 and Markkanen at 16 a game. Without Collins (4 straight), Martin (3 straight), Mykhailiuk (2 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 105, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 17 free throws a game; Tatum at 27 and White at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Utah giving it away 19 times a game to Boston's 11 and the defense, Boston allowing 105 a night to Utah's 120. Call it Boston 115, Utah 111, Utah keeping it close.
3/05 @ MEM 120-103 — OKC notes
OKC won 120-103. OKC shot 51% (44 of 87) to MEM's 41%, 15 of 36 from three. The glass went 39-49 against them. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 41 (14 of 25, 3 of 5 from three, 10 of 10 at the line); Jal. Williams added 20, Wiggins 16. The hinge was Q3, 30-23: a lead of 6 became 13, and the lead reached 21. Dort was the night's best plus/minus at +35.
3/07 vs POR 107-89 — OKC notes
OKC won 107-89. OKC shot 46% (39 of 84) to POR's 35%, 14 of 38 from three. OKC turned it over 11 times to POR's 17. The glass went 43-53 against them. Wiggins led with 30 (13 of 26, 2 of 9 from three); Caruso added 17, Dieng 16. The hinge was Q2, 34-21: a lead of 5 became 18, and the lead reached 21. Jay. Williams was the night's best plus/minus at +35.
3/09 vs DEN 127-103 — OKC notes
OKC won 127-103. OKC shot 49% (46 of 94) to DEN's 41%, 13 of 38 from three. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 40 (15 of 32, 2 of 11 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Jal. Williams added 26, Holmgren 14. The hinge was Q4, 41-20: a lead of 3 became 24. Holmgren was the night's best plus/minus at +32.
3/10 vs DEN 127-140 — OKC notes
OKC lost 127-140. OKC took 14 more shots (100 to 86), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 47% to DEN's 60%, 19 of 47 from three. Dort led with 26 (9 of 16, 8 of 14 from three); Gilgeous-Alexander added 25, Hartenstein 20. Q2 was theirs, 41-33, turning a 2-point deficit into a 6-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 107-86 against them. They led by as many as 12. Holmgren's -20 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/12 @ BOS 118-112 — OKC notes
OKC won 118-112. OKC shot 49% (40 of 82) to BOS's 44%, 13 of 37 from three, and went to the line 35 times to BOS's 12 — 25 points from the stripe to their 10. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 34 (11 of 20, 2 of 7 from three, 10 of 11 at the line); Holmgren added 23, Wallace 14. The hinge was Q4, 30-24: from level to 6 ahead. Wallace was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
3/15 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 116, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 29 free throws a game; Cunningham at 32 and Harris at 15 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Smith (5 straight), Harper Jr. (17 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 35 and Jal. Williams at 19 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Detroit has been plus-4 a night and OKC minus-3 and the turnovers, Detroit giving it away 14 times a game to OKC's 10. Call it OKC 116, Detroit 114, Detroit keeping it close.
3/16 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 113, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 24 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 29 and Lillard at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Portis (13 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 37 and Holmgren at 15 a game. Without Jal. Williams (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Milwaukee has been plus-8 a night and OKC plus-0 and the turnovers, Milwaukee giving it away 14 times a game to OKC's 11. Call it OKC 115, Milwaukee 113, Milwaukee keeping it close.
3/19 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 36 and Hartenstein at 15 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Jal. Williams (3 straight). 2 days' rest. Philadelphia comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 126, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Grimes at 34 and Dowtin Jr. at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without Maxey (8 straight), Oubre Jr. (3 straight), Walker IV (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where OKC has been plus-5 a night and Philadelphia minus-13 and the defense, OKC allowing 113 a night to Philadelphia's 126. Call it OKC 122, Philadelphia 111, OKC by 11.
3/21 vs CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 113, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 34 and Hartenstein at 17 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Jal. Williams (4 straight), Dort (2 straight). One day's rest. Charlotte comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 17 free throws a game; Ball at 23 and Bridges at 18 a game. Without Gra. Williams (53 straight), Simpson (11 straight), Salaün (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where OKC has been plus-6 a night and Charlotte minus-1 and the defense, OKC allowing 113 a night to Charlotte's 122. Call it OKC 122, Charlotte 107, OKC by 15.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
OKCAW A. Wiggins
CH C. Holmgren
CW C. Wallace
IH I. Hartenstein
IJ I. Joe
KW K. Williams
LD L. Dort
OD O. Dieng
SG S. Gilgeous-Alexander
BOSAH A. Horford
DW D. White
JB J. Brown
JH J. Holiday
JT J. Tatum
LK L. Kornet
PP P. Pritchard
SH S. Hauser
TC T. Craig
OKC/BOS the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
West-best Thunder come to home of NBA champs and beat Celtics to clinch playoff berth
BOSTON -- — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 and Chet Holmgren had 23 points and 15 rebounds to help the Oklahoma City Thunder clinch a playoff berth by beating the Boston Celtics 118-112 on Wednesday night.
In a much-anticipated potential NBA Finals preview, the Western Conference-leading Thunder withstood a barrage of Boston 3-pointers — a franchise record 63 attempts in all — to sweep the defending NBA champions in the two-game season series and win for the 17th time in their last 18 games.
Jayson Tatum scored 33 for Boston, which had won five straight and 15 of its last 18 games. Al Horford added 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Derrick White scored 22.
Oklahoma City scored the first nine points of the game and led by 12 midway through the third before Boston tied it 88-all on Tatum's three-point play to end the quarter. It was 98-98 in the fourth before the Thunder ran off eight straight points to pull away.
Takeaways Thunder: After splitting a back-to-back against Denver, their closest competitor in the West, the Thunder controlled the game against the reigning champions and the likely No. 2 seed in the East.
Celtics: If the teams do meet for the championship, expect reigning NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown to play better than his 5-for-15 shooting night, missing all five 3-point attempts and scoring 10 points to match a season low before he fouled out.
Key moment With the score tied at 98 and eight minutes to play, Kenrich Williams hit a 3-pointer, Gilgeous-Alexander made a pair of free throws and, after Williams hit a free throw, Gilgeous-Alexander made a 15-foot turnaround jumper to make it an eight-point game.
Key stat Boston's 36 3-point attempts in the first half were the most in any half in NBA history. They finished 20 for 63 — tying the third most attempts in league history.
Up next The Celtics visit Miami on Friday and the Thunder are in Detroit on Saturday.