Gilgeous-alexander scores 36, Thunder top Celtics
OKLAHOMA CITY — Shai Gilgeousalexander scored 36 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder held off the Nbaleading Boston Celtics 127-123 on Tuesday night for their fifth straight win.
Josh Giddey had 23 points, eight rebounds and six assists, and Chet Holmgren added 14 points, seven assists and four blocks for the Thunder, who entered the night with the league’s fourthbest record.
Kristaps Porzingis scored 34 points and Jayson Tatum had 30 for the Celtics, who had won six straight and 11 of 12.
Oklahoma City has won eight of nine. During that stretch, the Thunder have beaten defending champion Denver twice, ended the Los Angeles’ Clippers win streak at nine, beaten Minnesota — the top team in the West — by 23, and now topped the Celtics.
Boston led 61-58 at halftime behind 18 points from Porzingis. Gilgeous-alexander kept the Thunder in it with 17.
The Thunder got off to a strong start in the second half. Giddey’s deep 3-pointer gave Oklahoma City a 76-69 lead. It got so frustrating for the Celtics that coach Joe Mazzulla was called for a technical during the period. Gilgeous-alexander scored 16 points on 7-for-10 shooting in the quarter to help Oklahoma City take a 98-86 edge into the fourth.
Oklahoma City started hot in the fourth. Jalen Williams took off on a fast break, cocked the ball back with his right hand and brought down the hammer on a dunk to give the Thunder a 108-90 lead.
The Celtics rallied late. Derrick White hit a 3-pointer with 41 seconds remaining to cut Boston’s deficit to 121-119. Williams quickly responded with a short floater to push the lead back to four.
Porzingis was fouled with 15.2 seconds left, and he made both free throws to cut Oklahoma City’s lead to 123-121.
Giddey was fouled with 12.1 seconds left. His first free throw rolled in and his second was perfect to put the Thunder up four.
Porzingis hit a shot deep in the left corner with 3.7 seconds left. It was called a 2-pointer, and that was upheld upon review, so Boston still trailed by two.
Gilgeous-alexander was fouled with
2.8 seconds remaining, he made both free throws to put the game away.
■ 76ers 110, Bulls 97: At Philadelphia, Joel Embiid had 31 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in his return from a sprained right ankle. Demar Derozan led the Bulls with 16 points.
■ Hornets 111, Kings 104: At Sacramento, Calif., Terry Rozier scored 14 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter for Charlotte, which snapped a 11-game skid.
■ Grizzlies 106, Spurs 98: At
Memphis, Tenn., Ja Morant had 26 points, 10 assists and a fourth-quarter dunk over Victor Wembanyama.
■ Warriors 121, Magic 115: At San Francisco, Stephen Curry scored 36 points for Golden State, which snap a three-game losing streak.
■ Pelicans 112, Nets 85: At New Orleans, CJ Mccollum scored 16 points as New Orleans never trailed and led by as many as 32 points.