Final: Thunder 150, Celtics 117 - Embarrassing loss

Game 38: Celtics (-8.5) at OKC Thunder, 8 p.m., Paycom Center, NBCS Boston

Injuries: 

Boston: Danilo Gallinari, Robert Williams (knee injury management)

OKC: Chet Holmgren (foot), Aleksej Pokusevski (leg), Ousmane Dieng (wrist), Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (ankle)

Thunder probable starters: Jaylin Williams, Jalen Williams, Luguentz Dort, Josh Giddey, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Refs: Mark Lindsay (#29), Lauren Holtkamp (#7), Andy Nagy (#83)

Last time they played: Celtics 126 - Thunder 122, November 14: The Celtics were barely present for the better part of three quarters, barely playing any defense and turning the ball over a lot. They were out-worked by the team on the back-to-back for most of the game, and whenever they did do something right, they ended up missing the shot. Then they woke up at the end of the third quarter and they ramped up their defense in the fourth to come away with the win.

A little something about this game: The Thunder have lost three of four games after a three-game winning streak. They're going to be without Pokusevski, who torched them in the last game for 16 points on 7-12 shooting, 14 rebounds, 3 blocked shots, and 3 assists. Josh Giddey is on fire, shooting 43.2% from 3 in 12 December games. Gilgeous-Alexander continues to make his All-NBA push, averaging a tick under 31 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. The Thunder 5-12 on the road, but 10-9 at home, so this isn't as big a gimme as it might seem.

How the Celtics win: Take care of the ball. The Thunder will turn you over if you’re not careful and they will get out in transition. Don’t hang your heads on misses and get back on defense or else. The Thunder love to get to the rim, and that's partly because they're a transition team, but it’s also because of Gilgeous-Alexander, who will put a lot of pressure on the defense. Keep him out of the lane and it should be a fairly easy day.

How the Thunder win: They’ll win if they get big contributions from the “other” guys. Lu Dort had 21 the first time these teams played. Jalen Williams had 14. Poku had 16. Giddey had 16. That can’t happen this time around. 

Things I’m looking for:

- The basics: Execution and good decision making to make the right play and stick to the defensive game plan. After watching the Nuggets game again, the early defensive miscues were more player-driven than scheme, so the discipline has to be there. Facing bad teams in January scares me because these are the dog days, and if the energy and focus isn’t where it needs to be, teams can make you look bad. 

- How they generate shots: Do they do the hard work of getting paint touches and kick outs, or do they settle? Poku being out eliminates a shot blocking threat, so the Celtics should try to attack first and then kick when the help comes over. 

- Malcolm Brogdon bounce back: Can he get it going against a team with a weak bench? Now would be a great time to snap out of whatever is bugging him. 

Follow along below or in the comments during the game, chime in, and let’s have fun.