Everything you need to know about the Celtics’ 100-99 win over the Thunder in quickie form.
Box score
HEADLINES
Miraculous comeback: Marcus Morris hit the game-winning 3-point shot with just 1.2 seconds on the clock, closing out a 6-0 run for the Celtics to pull off a miraculous win over a motivated Thunder squad fighting for their playoff lives. Boston scored six unanswered points in the final 12.7 seconds and benefited from three missed free throws during that sequence to open the door to a win. According to ESPN, it was the first time in 884 games that a team rallied from down five or more points with under 20 seconds remaining in the contest.
Rookie steps up:
While Morris (21 points) may have hit the game-winner, the Celtics would not have survived the defensive slugfest (both teams shot 41 percent) without some serious playmaking from Jayson Tatum. The 20-year-old tallied the fourth double-double of his career with 23 points and 11 rebounds, giving him the first 20/10 double-double in green. He also did it efficiently (8-of-12 FG) despite being the primary option for the Celtics all night. And his impact was accurately depicted in the plus/minus: in a one-point game, he was a plus-23.
A needed win:
With a four-game road trip looming and Kyrie Irving not traveling, a victory was a needed confidence boost for this undermanned crowd. Reinforcements should be arriving soon (Jaylen Brown was shooting on the floor before the game as he inches further in NBA concussion protocol) but after a couple of heartbreaking losses at home last week against the Pacers and Wizards, the C’s redeemed themselves against an elite opponent on the Garden floor. They also lowered their magic number in clinching the No. 2 seed in the East to six.
TURNING POINT
Carmelo Anthony
had a chance to put the game out of reach with a pair of free throws with 8.4 seconds remaining and the Thunder holding onto a two-point lead (99-97). However, the 81 percent career free-throw shooter surprisingly missed both attempts, which allowed Brad Stevens to use his final timeout to draw up the eventual game-winner for Morris.
TWO UP
Jayson Tatum:
Additional responsibility has fallen on the rookie with Irving and Brown sidelined and he’s making the most of his additional chances. He has scored at least 15 points in four of his last five games, averaging 18.4 ppg over that stretch with 50 percent shooting from the field. His double-double was his first in over three months, a positive sign Tatum's regaining his legs after a midseason slump.
Greg Monroe:
TWO DOWN
Al Horford:
Shane Larkin
Semi Ojeleye:
TOP PLAY
TWO TAKES B-ROBB WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER
Shane Larkin continues to prove his worth:
Russell Westbrook
Abdel Nader
Daniel Theis
The Thunder are one player away from making some noise in postseason:
Corey Brewer
