Thunder’s Epic Comeback Shocks Celtics in Stunning Victory!

Okay, I’m convinced. Time to start searching for spring flights to Oklahoma City’s Will Rogers Airport. Let’s secure some accommodations near the Courtyard by the Paycom Center for June. Don’t forget to load up on Bud Light and High Noon, Bricktown, because the Thunder are making their way to the NBA Finals.

Who says you can’t make a statement in January? Nonsense. The Thunder just proved otherwise. It was Oklahoma City 105, Boston Celtics 92 this past Sunday. The Celtics arrived in Oklahoma on a three-game winning streak, with a fully healthy squad. Despite missing Chet Holmgren, Alex Caruso, and Ajay Mitchell, the Thunder clinched the victory with a significant double-digit lead. This eagerly anticipated midseason game, though surprisingly relegated to NBA TV, absolutely delivered.

What a thrilling contest. The game saw ten ties and six changes in the lead. Boston was up by 10 points at the break, but Oklahoma City surged ahead to finish with a 13-point lead. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored an impressive 33 points. Aaron Wiggins came off the bench to add 15 points. Lu Dort, after missing all six attempts in the first half, succeeded in sinking four three-pointers later in the game. The Celtics, ranked second in the league for offensive rating, were restricted to just 27 points in the latter half by the Thunder.

“Increased pressure, more tenacity, intensified effort,” remarked Thunder coach Mark Daigneault. “We’ve demonstrated that we can perform exceptionally on defense.”

With a record of 30–5, the Thunder are experiencing their best season start ever. Their ongoing 15-game winning streak is only the second of its length in the past five years. What about the highly competitive Western Conference? It’s competitive indeed, but not at the top. The Thunder are leading over the second-place Houston Rockets by more games (7½) than the Rockets over the 12th-place Phoenix Suns (6½).

Seriously, just hand over all the midseason awards to the Thunder. Get on the phone with Tim Bontemps from ESPN, the so-called Czar of the Straw Poll. My pick is Gilgeous-Alexander for MVP. Describing the SGA experience is challenging. You’re watching the game, it’s the third quarter, and suddenly you notice he’s scored 30. Boston’s trio of top defensive guards—Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White—were all outmaneuvered by Gilgeous-Alexander, who racked up 16 points in the second half, along with six rebounds and three assists.

My choice for Defensive Player of the Year is Lu Dort. Dort’s performance from beyond the arc got plenty of postgame buzz, but it was his defensive plays that sealed the deal. Brown had scored 21 points in the first half, but once Dort was assigned to him after the break, he couldn’t add to his tally. Dort effectively contained Brown on the perimeter and shadowed him closely to the basket.

“They seemed too comfortable in the first half, which was largely his doing,” Dort commented. “We just needed to step up the physicality a bit.”

I’d propose Jalen Williams for All-Star, or at least for All-Star consideration. Williams had a humble stat line on Sunday—10 points, six rebounds, five assists—but his defensive effort in the second half was crucial, holding Tatum to 4-of-11 shooting and playing the entire final quarter, during which the Celtics only scored 12 points.

And for Coach of the Year? Give it to Mark Daigneault again. Okay, perhaps Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kenny Atkinson deserves a mention too. But Daigneault deserves recognition for his superb handling of a deep roster that can go 11 to 12 players strong when healthy. He has implemented a robust, switching defensive scheme that has turned the Thunder into a force to be reckoned with. Most of the team’s talent has been developed in-house, with Daigneault playing a key role in their growth over the past five years.

Give Sam Presti the Executive of the Year award. To those who say he hasn’t accomplished anything yet—time for bed. This team is the pride of the NBA. In his two decades leading the Thunder, Presti has built two potential dynasties. The first one might have fizzled after just one Finals appearance, but this current team could go further. Most of Oklahoma City’s key players are 26 or younger, with contracts extending through at least 2027.

With the potential to achieve anything. This June, the Thunder could have four first-round picks in a draft considered one of the most talent-rich in recent years. They could amass as many as 11 first-round picks over the next four years. Whatever the outcome with Jimmy Butler, the biggest winner could well be Oklahoma City. They hold Miami Heat’s lottery-protected pick this year, which becomes unprotected in 2026.

Unsurprisingly, the Thunder weren’t overly thrilled about Sunday’s win. “Just one of 82,” Daigneault deadpanned. They also understand that a January victory doesn’t guarantee success in June. Oklahoma City has mounted some impressive comebacks recently. In their last two games, the Thunder outscored the New York Knicks and Celtics 66–31 in the fourth quarter. However, those were home games. They are aware that they need to start stronger when playing away, especially against formidable teams in hostile environments.

“We’ve faced some challenges, which is always beneficial; we always learn from them,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “It’s tough on the road to overcome the slow starts we’ve been having lately. So we need to fix that. We have to be the ones to throw the first punch, especially on the road against strong teams backed by their home crowd.”

And Boston? According to Gilgeous-Alexander, don’t yet compare the Thunder to them. Not just yet.

“They’ve achieved what we’re still dreaming of,” Gilgeous-Alexander noted. “There’s no shortcut to reaching that level without facing and competing against teams like them. That’s what motivates me to get up in the morning. That’s why I play, and that’s what tonight was all about.”

Alright. Let’s revisit this in June.