Oklahoma Town trainer Mark Daigneault likened the Celtics’ efficiency this season to that of a Ferrari.
Boston’s newest victory over the Thunder earned it but any other luxurious with the playoffs speedy drawing near.
Kristaps Porzingis had 27 issues, 12 rebounds and 5 blocks, serving to the Celtics energy previous the Thunder 135-100 on Wednesday night time to protected the most productive document within the NBA and home-court merit right through the playoffs.
Boston, which gained its eleventh consecutive domestic sport, advanced to 60-16 at the season to notch its 14th 60-win season in franchise historical past. The one different franchise with no less than 10 such seasons is the Lakers, who’ve 11, in step with ESPN Stats & Knowledge.
“We deserve it. I feel it is in all probability going to subject if we apply thru with the imaginative and prescient we now have for ourselves,” Porzingis stated.
The Celtics, who additionally have been led by way of Jayson Tatum’s 24 issues and Jaylen Brown’s 23 issues and 7 rebounds, trailed for simplest 62 seconds within the sport.
Brown likes the development the workforce has been making because the common season winds down.
“We are not skipping any steps,” Brown stated. “Sixty wins. I feel we are not off course. When the playoffs get started, it is again to sq. one.”
Boston trainer Joe Mazzulla stated the milestone is any other fulfillment his workforce would possibly not take without any consideration. However he additionally stated it’s not one thing he needs the Celtics to reside on.
“It is very arduous to do. We might by no means be on this place once more,” Mazzulla stated. “We mentioned it as a workforce. We mentioned it earlier than the sport, to check out to regard this sport because the clincher. To more or less put that on ourselves so to do this. I feel it used to be essential for us to simulate that. … We will have to experience it this night, and when get up the following day — no person cares.”
Brown used to be questionable heading into the sport with a sprained left hand. He stated he were given it tested after Boston’s win at Charlotte on Monday and described it as a sprained ligament.
“I feel it is wonderful. It is one thing I am not eager about transferring ahead,” he stated. “But it surely afflicted me a little bit bit this night.”
Boston led by way of as many as 16 within the first part earlier than Oklahoma Town lower it to 6 issues within the 3rd quarter. Main by way of 10 after 3, the Celtics opened the fourth with a 12-4 run to stretch their result in 105-87.
Josh Giddey led Oklahoma Town with 17 issues. Luguentz Dort added 15 issues. The Thunder completed with 14 turnovers and have been simply 5-of-24 from past the arc.
OKC performed with out All-Famous person and main scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who sat for the fourth time in 5 video games with a bruised proper quadriceps. Jalen Williams neglected his 2d instantly with a sprained left ankle.
Knowledge from The Related Press used to be used on this record.
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