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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder punched their ticket to the playoffs with an impressive 118-112 victory over the reigning champion Boston Celtics in a potential NBA Final.
Gilgeous-Alexander enhanced his credentials as favourite for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award with a superb performance to silence Boston’s TD Garden home crowd in an absorbing duel settled by a burst of fourth-quarter Thunder scoring. The Canadian point guard shot 11-of-20 from the field to finish with five rebounds, seven assists and 34 points, including 10-of-11 from the free throw line.
The victory lifted Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City to a 54-12 win-loss record for the season and guaranteed their place in next month’s playoffs.
Wednesday’s win over a vastly more experienced Boston lineup marked another mature display from a Thunder side that is the youngest in the league.
Despite missing Jaylin Williams from the lineup, the Thunder finished with seven players scoring in double figures against the Celtics.
Oklahoma City has not won an NBA title since 1979, when the franchise was located in Washington State and they were called the Seattle Super Sonics.
