Streak ends in Boston
Celtics came from behind to beat the Thunder, 100-99.
BOSTON — You probably thought it was going in.
You’ve seen Russell Westbrook make a game-winner before, seen him bail out the Thunder in a game it was supposed to lose. And he had a pretty good look Tuesday at TD Garden.
But Westbrook’s jumper just before the buzzer fell short in Oklahoma City’s 100-99 loss to the Celtics, a fitting end for a game that was as unpredictable as any this season.
The Thunder led 98-94 with 16.8 seconds to play and Westbrook headed to
the line for a pair of free throws, and its seventh straight win seemed all but assured. But Westbrook missed one of his two attempts, and the most stunning turn in the game was yet to come.
Carmelo Anthony went to the line with 8.4 seconds to play and OKC in front 99-97. He had two shots coming, and you probably thought those were going in, too. Anthony said later he “without a doubt” always expects to make two in that situation.
Instead, he missed both.
“Usually this game would have been over, this game would have been iced,” Anthony said. “Making those free throws and walking out of here with a big road victory, especially here in Boston where it’s always tough to win.”
Anthony’s misses set up some heroics, but this time not from Westbrook.
Marcus Morris gave a shot fake at the other end, then buried a contested 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left to put Boston in front 100-99. After a timeout, Westbrook’s jump shot missed, setting off a wild celebration and wrapping a bizarre game for a Thunder team that had ridden in red hot.
It had been a game of surprises, in the big picture and small.
For starters, the Thunder had reverted to an old and unbecoming habit that seemed it might be a thing of the past.
Coming off a stirring
win at Toronto on Sunday, it got a gift in Boston, where the Celtics were without their top two scorers, Kyrie Irving (left knee soreness) and Jaylen Brown (concussion).
It was the sort of test that has vexed the Thunder at times this season, the sort of setback it surely hoped was in its rearview mirror. Too often this season, OKC has seemed to overlook opponents it expects to beat, and Boston qualified.
But the Celtics got the sort of game they needed to have a chance. It was a slog more often than not, both offenses forcing bad shots and making ugly turnovers. The Thunder shot 41.2 percent from the floor, the Celtics 41.4.
Oklahoma City had 13 turnovers that led to 16 Boston points. The Celtics coughed it up 19 times, leading to 20 points for the Thunder.
For much of the night, the Celtics seemed faster to loose balls, more dialed in that the visitors.
Still, there were twists that indicated maybe the Thunder might find a way to pull out a win.
There was the discombobulated fastbreak when Westbrook lost control of the ball and Steven Adams corralled it and tried to carry on with it, only for the ball to find its way back to Westbrook, who turned a train wreck of a trip into a locomotive of a finish, cruising in to score with a dazzling Eurostep.
And there was the late possession with Anthony, isolated against Al Horford, and who looked ready to hunt a shot the way you’ve seen him do so many times.
Instead, he spotted one for someone else, finding Corey Brewer in the corner for the only 3-pointer Brewer made in six attempts. It came with 1:53 to play, it put the Thunder up six.
It turns out there were more surprises in store, none more stunning than Melo misfiring at the free-throw line two times in the closing seconds.
“It’s easy to beat yourself up about it, but it happens,” Anthony said. “I’m pretty sure I’ll beat myself up about it tonight, and tomorrow is a new day.”