- The Oklahoma City Thunder set a franchise record, extended their win streak to 13 games with a 116-98 home victory over the Los Angeles Clippers
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 29 points and eight assists, while Isaiah Hartenstein added 11 points, nine rebounds, and six assists
- The Boston Celtics held on for a 118-115 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, despite being without Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis due to injuries
- Jayson Tatum sparked the Celtics with 33 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists, while Derrick White added 26 points
- The Celtics forced 16 turnovers and made only four turnovers themselves, but the Timberwolves stayed in the game by outscoring Boston 20-4 at the free throw line
Key Takeaways:
The Oklahoma City Thunder and Boston Celtics emerged victorious in the NBA last night, with the Thunder extending their win streak to 13 games and the Celtics holding on for a thrilling win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Thunder’s 116-98 win over the Los Angeles Clippers was fueled by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s impressive performance, which included 29 points and eight assists. Isaiah Hartenstein also made significant contributions, adding 11 points, nine rebounds, and six assists to help the Thunder improve to 28-5 on the season.
THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER HAVE WON A FRANCHISE HIGH 13 STRAIGHT GAMES ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/kid4UKKozr
— TF (@ThunderFocus) January 3, 2025
The Thunder’s win streak is the longest since the team relocated from Seattle after the 2007-08 season, and it’s a testament to their dominance in the Western Conference. Oklahoma City trailed at halftime but outscored the Clippers 42-20 in the third quarter to take control of the game. The Clippers were unable to close the gap, and the Thunder cruised to their 13th consecutive win.
Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics were without two key players, Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis, due to injuries, but they still managed to secure a 118-115 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Jayson Tatum was the star of the show, scoring 33 points on 13-of-27 shooting, including 6-of-17 from three-point range. He also added eight rebounds and nine assists to help the Celtics improve to 25-9 on the season. Derrick White chipped in with 26 points, and the Celtics’ ability to force 15 turnovers while making only three themselves was a key factor in their win.
The Timberwolves made it close by outscoring the Celtics 20-4 at the free throw line, and they had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds. However, Anthony Edwards missed a three-pointer at the buzzer, securing the win for the Celtics.