The Oklahoma City Thunder have exploded in a historically offensive dominance of the Boston Celtics and huge boilover at Paycom Center on Wednesday (all times AEDT), winning 150-117 behind a big outing from Josh Giddey.
Giddey erupted for 17 points and three three-pointers in the third quarter to help the Thunder go off for a franchise record 48 points in the period to open up a 31-point lead over Boston.
The Aussie checked out at the end of the third with a season-high 25 points – three short of his career-high – on 10-of-15 shooting, three triples, five rebounds, five assists and two steals in 24 minutes.
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Wed, 04 Jan
Wednesday January 4th
OKC’s 150 points also set a franchise record, which is all the more amazing considering it was without superstar leading scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
It paved the way for Giddey to take full advantage of the extra ball handling and offensive responsibilities.
“He’s in the zone right now. Everything he’s throwing up is going in,” Thunder commentator Michael Cage said after Giddey’s third make from downtown in the third term.
“He’s just feeling it and you couldn’t pick a better time without your leading scorer … having the quarter of his life right now. It couldn’t come at a better time because you know the Celtics are trying to make a run at you right now but they’ve been able to starve them off every single time with plays like that.”
Of course, this is also a team that once had all three of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Russell Westbrook in one of the most talented offensive trios of all time.
Elsewhere, Jalen Williams (21 points, six assists, four steals), Lu Dort (23 points), three triples), Tre Mann and Isaiah Joe (both 21 points) have also turned in big performances for the Thunder, who shot 59 per cent from the field including 50 percent from downtown and improved to 16-21 on the season.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 56 points for the Celtics and Malcolm Brogdon and Payton Pritchard chipped in 17 each, but the Celtics had no answers to slow down the red-hot Thunder at the other end of the floor.
GIANNIS DROPS CAREER-HIGH 55 POINTS
There’s been some monster stat lines in the NBA over the last week, and Giannis Antetokounmpo has added to them.
The Greek Freak went off for a career-high 55 points to lead the Milwaukee Bucks past the Washington Wizards at home 123-113.
His monster line included shooting 20-of-33 from the field and 16-of-16 from the charity swap with 10 rebounds, seven assists and two steals.
Antetokounmpo has now averaged 47.6 points, 17.3 rebounds and 6.3 rebounds over the last week.
It wasn’t the only big performance, with Brook Lopez racking up 21 points, 12 boards and six blocks and Bobby Portis tallying 17 points and 13 rebounds, while Kristaps Porzingis netted a team-high 22 for Washington.
With it, the Bucks improved to 24-13 on the season, sitting a game and a half behind the first-seeded Celtics.
Meanwhile, the loss snapped a five-game winning streak for the 17-22 Wizards.
ALL RESULTS
CELTICS 117 THUNDER 150
WIZARDS 113 BUCKS 123
KINGS 117 JAZZ 115
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