Rapid Recap is designed for the busiest of Celtics fans. Whether you canβt stay awake to read 10 paragraphs or your hangover is just too much, Rapid Recap tells the timeline of the game in only a minute or two.
The Celtics kicked-off their West Gauntlet with a nice 3:30 PM tip-off in Oklahoma City. It was a tale of two halves as they looked like a completely different team in the second half and fought for a huge (112-111) win. Without further pandering, lets get into it.
FINALLY! After this recent stretch where the Hospital Celtics have been the wave, they were healthy for their do-si-do with the Thunder.
#NEBHInjuryReport update:
Jaylen Brown – AVAILABLE
Gordon Hayward – AVAILABLE
Daniel Theis – AVAILABLE
Kemba Walker – AVAILABLE
Robert Williams – OUT https://t.co/uAxHv7RnIM— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 9, 2020
Celtics usual starters have only played in 15 games, for a total of 160 minutes together, all season. They have outscored opponents by 15.6 points per 100 possessions with a superb 122.1 offensive rating. https://t.co/8KmRdlq1uR
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) February 9, 2020
As for Robert Williams, he’s nearing his return as he’s been sidelined since early December.
Robert Williams said he just completed his first full-contact workout. Came into locker room screaming excitement.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) February 9, 2020
The two teams came out of the gate gunning as both Danilo Gallinari and Daniel Theis started off hot. Theis was everywhere on both ends and made a couple of heads up plays. The Celtics trailed 16-12 halfway through the first
π¦π¦π¦ Gallo's already got 9 points. pic.twitter.com/FzYrSlhE95
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) February 9, 2020
Theis' first 4 minutes: 5 pts, 2 rebounds, 2 assists.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) February 9, 2020
Theis wide open under the rim pic.twitter.com/bVZ6K7tAR9
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 9, 2020
Kemba Walker joined in on the festivities as he got this fadeaway to go at the end of the shot clock.
Kemba for 3οΈβ£at the buzzer π¨ pic.twitter.com/wJun0WZgg5
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 9, 2020
https://twitter.com/Riffs_Man/status/1226612096584081410?s=20
Enes Kanter showed a bit of muscle and grit down low as he had his hands full with his good friend Steven Adams.
Enes Kanter holding his own in the battle of the Stache Brothers. pic.twitter.com/Iljw1BVlBX
— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) February 9, 2020
After some lackadaisical coverage and inept offense from Boston, the Thunder rolled into Β a 10-0 run to close the first quarter with a 32-28 lead.
Thunder end first quarter on a 10-0 run.
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) February 9, 2020
Tough start for Tatum. Beyond that travel, he's 0-2, hasn't touched the ball much.
— Mark Murphy (@Murf56) February 9, 2020
I hate hate hate how Kanter got the ball to Tatum on the block then ran straight down from the top of the key to the other block and put another defender in his way. Just let the kid cook and get back on D for one possession
— John Karalis π¬π·πΊπ¦ (@John_Karalis) February 9, 2020
Jayson Tatum started off the second hot as he hit back to back threes to give the Celtics a 34-32 lead as the two teams continued to get up and down at a rampant pace.
JT for π pic.twitter.com/RMD5jbReaa
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 9, 2020
After a few rough calls Brad Stevens showed his displeasure with a delightful sound bite.
Here's the video pic.twitter.com/dQMdLWn7ym
— John Karalis π¬π·πΊπ¦ (@John_Karalis) February 9, 2020
Three fouls on Marcus Smart already.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) February 9, 2020
The Thunder countered the Celtics mini-run with one of their own as they picked on Romeo Langford and went right at him.
Langford learning some tough lessons on the pump fakes today from some crafty OKC guards.
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) February 9, 2020
What a move, SGA π₯ pic.twitter.com/3isxH0JBKb
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 9, 2020
15-2 OKC run.
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) February 9, 2020
A Dennis Schroder layup prompted a Brad Stevens timeout (could’ve been taken a few minutes earlier, I for one am shocked that Brad waited to call a timeout.) as the Thunder darted out to a 51-42 advantage.
Kemba then decided it was time for some buckets as he put in this sweet layup and got fouled on a three-ball.
Kemba with a little magic on the baseline: pic.twitter.com/wuCmzuCBZH
— Tomek Kordylewski (@Timi_093) February 9, 2020
The game within the game between Steven Adams and Enes Kanter is fantastic and also hilarious.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) February 9, 2020
The first half ended with some sloppy play and a 61-52 advantage for OKC.
Halftime: Thunder 61, Celtics 52
βοΈ Walker: 13 PTS
βοΈ Hayward: 9 PTS, 4 REB
βοΈ Brown, Tatum & Theis: 7 PTS apiece
β Gallinari: 14 PTS
β Gilgeous-Alexander: 13 PTS, 6 REB
β Schroder: 12 PTS, 4 REB— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) February 9, 2020
Then, to top it all off…
Smart's having a bad day https://t.co/ODIPABipPd
— John Karalis π¬π·πΊπ¦ (@John_Karalis) February 9, 2020
https://twitter.com/SeanGrandePBP/status/1226623337222352896?s=20
After the free throw, Boston got the offense going with a quick little run to cut the deficit.
The Celtics just made the first three FGs of the 3Q to pull back to within 62-59. Nice response after a rough end to the first half.
— Marc D'Amico (@Marc_DAmico) February 9, 2020
Hayward needs to touch the ball every time down the floor. He's just doing so much right in this one
— John Karalis π¬π·πΊπ¦ (@John_Karalis) February 9, 2020
Tatum takin' it straight to the basket https://t.co/wgVLvBRM4r
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 9, 2020
Tatum taking over.
Two tough drives and then the corner 3, and the 10-point deficit is gone.— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) February 9, 2020
Coming out of halftime the energy was way up and the Celtics were flying all over the court as Jayson Tatum began to take over.
Tatum has 12 points in the first six minutes of the third quarter.
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) February 9, 2020
Hayward to Tatum for 3οΈβ£ pic.twitter.com/WcUSIZ9b1Q
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 9, 2020
The Thunder seemed stymied as the Celtics stepped their game up on both ends. From there, Jaylen Brown returned and made his presence felt with a couple of buckets.
Jaylen's taking out his anger about his ankle on the Thunder.
Drives and scores inside, drives and draws a foul and tries to cram after, then swishes a 3.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) February 9, 2020
In true Smarf fashion, Marcus drew this bizarre foul and had a little theatrics to go with it.
What was that LOL pic.twitter.com/MfnhSXseHt
— Tomek Kordylewski (@Timi_093) February 9, 2020
https://twitter.com/Riffs_Man/status/1226631238695505920?s=20
The Thunder continued to fight as the teams played to a standstill to end the third
End of 3Q: Celtics 84, Thunder 84
βοΈ Tatum: 19 PTS, 6 REB
βοΈ Walker: 17 PTS, 3 REB
βοΈ Brown: 15 PTS
β Gallinari: 22 PTS, 3 REB
β Gilgeous-Alexander: 18 PTS, 6 REB— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) February 9, 2020
16 points for Tatum in the second half.
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) February 9, 2020
Tatum picked up where he left off in the fourth as he continued to roast with this beauty of a drive. This might’ve been the drive of the year for him as the combo-moves he’s showing were some voodoo.
Jayson "Superstar" Tatum pic.twitter.com/A6LksNWujj
— Tomek Kordylewski (@Timi_093) February 9, 2020
After a Jaylen Brown drive in transition, the Celtics took a 95-91 lead into a Thunder timeout with about 8 minutes to go.Β Daniel Theis continued to make his presence felt as he battled down low with the Thunder bigs.
Sneaky really good game from Theis so far. 11 points, 9 rebounds, team-high 5 assists.
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) February 9, 2020
It also might be time for Brad to just give up on challenging calls
Celtics are going to lose this coach's challenge…5th straight loss for Brad Stevens.
— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) February 9, 2020
The Thunder just refused to go away as they tightened it up to 101-99 before Tatum/Kemba decided that they had seen enough.
This has to be the manliest offensive possession Jayson Tatum has ever had. This is some BIG-BOY stuff right here in crunch time! pic.twitter.com/O8KmLmFcwG
— Marc D'Amico (@Marc_DAmico) February 9, 2020
A HIGH arcing three from Kemba
πππ₯ππ’ππ¬ πππ°π’π§π (π² @MetroByTMobile ) pic.twitter.com/06GhVDVa1u— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) February 9, 2020
Things felt bleak for OKC until a couple of poor turnovers by the Celtics brought the Thunder back to within 4 at 110-106.
Said the same about Tatum on previous possession. https://t.co/NyYy1Ucnmw
— Chuck M. (@McK_Chuck) February 9, 2020
Then to seal it, Marcus Smart pilfered SGA to slam the door shut as the Celtics come away with a 112-111 victory.
What a play by Smart.
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) February 9, 2020
MARCUS FREAKING SMART pic.twitter.com/igAsthbQrl
— Tomek Kordylewski (@Timi_093) February 9, 2020
Marcus with the game clinching cookies, of course pic.twitter.com/97EvH1Lt0a
— LennyIslandποΈ (@LennyBiased) February 9, 2020
I just can’t get over the plays he’s able to make. He always seems to have a knack for making a big defensive play when the game is on the line and it’s something this team needs to be successful. It’s what we like to call “winning plays”, and boy does he make a lot of them.
That was the 5th game-clinching steal, block or rebound by Marcus Smart this year.
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) February 9, 2020
All in all, a fantastic win for a team looking to start one of the tougher stretches of their season. The Celtics head to Houston for their next game with the Rockets.
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