Celtics vs. Thunder: Play-by-play, highlights and reactions
Game Time: 8:00 PM EDT on Monday March 21, 2022
Boston Celtics 132, Oklahoma City Thunder 123 (Final)
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Scott Souza @Scott_Souza#Celtics (22-4) & #Bruins (12-2-1) are a combined 34-6-1 over their last 41 games. #BostonSpring – 10:27 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Celtics win 132-123
Tatum – 36/7/6
Brown – 25 points
Batman – 20 points, 10 rebounds
Pritchard – 18 points
White – 18/5/5
Horford – 3/5/8/3/3
Celtics – 51.2% FGs
Celtics – 15-40 threes
Mann – 35/7/4
SGA – 31 points, 9 assists
Bazley – 22/10/3
Poku – 19/6/3
Thunder – 51.6% FGs – 10:26 PM Oklahoma City Thunder @okcthunder
fought to the finish pic.twitter.com/a7K8bQceW9 – 10:24 PM Jay King @ByJayKing
The Celtics largely Tre’ded buckets with the Thunder after the first quarter and didn’t play much defense but still Mannaged to sweep their four-game road trip. – 10:24 PM StatMuse @statmuse
Tre Mann vs the best defense in NBA:
35 PTS
13-21 FG
7-12 3P (ties franchise rookie record)
That’s the most points by a Thunder rookie since the franchise moved to OKC. – 10:24 PM Boston Celtics @celtics
Perfect road trip complete pic.twitter.com/PrxAVzOHnD – 10:24 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
The end wasn’t pretty, but a 4-0 west coast trip is still huge for the Celtics. – 10:23 PM Christos Tsaltas @Tsaltas46
Despite the loss the OKC Thunder have many good things to keep in the game against the Celtics
– 30-point game of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
– Rookie record by Tre Mann (35pts)
– Season high by Poku (19pts, 7/13FG)
– Bazley’s 22pts, 10rebs
The Thunder build their future #ThunderUp – 10:23 PM Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
Celtics beat Thunder 132-123 to close out 4-0 road trip. They are now in a three-way virtual tie for the No. 2 seed in the East. – 10:23 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Career-high 20 points for Grant Williams. – 10:22 PM Jon Hamm @JonMHamm
the Celtics are having to work WAY harder than they probably expected tonight – 10:22 PM John Karalis @John_Karalis
this is a perfect game for the Thunder. Wild comeback, huge performances by guys who may be key to their future, still lose. – 10:21 PM Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Grant Williams saves the day with an offensive rebound to get fouled and reach 20 points and a double-double for the first time in his career. Celtics were lucky he got that board because this has been one of their ugliest finishes to a game in months. – 10:21 PM Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Tre Mann’s 35 points are a Thunder rookie record.
More than Russell Westbrook.
More than James Harden.
More than Poku. – 10:20 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Tre Mann set a Thunder rookie scoring record with 35 points. – 10:20 PM Royce Young @royceyoung
Tre Mann has a career-high 35 which is also the new top single game scoring mark ever for a Thunder rookie (OKC era). – 10:19 PM Oklahoma City Thunder @okcthunder
down to the wire pic.twitter.com/RyccQxlShG – 10:19 PM John Karalis @John_Karalis
Boston has now given up 72 second half points to the Thunder. – 10:18 PM Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
SGA and Tre Mann both with 30+ point games.
That’s KD and Russ type stuff. – 10:17 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
This is very much a “We already won the trip” performance from the Celtics. Against almost any other team, this would be a loss. – 10:17 PM Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Aleksej Pokuševski has recorded a season-high 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Per Thunder PR – 10:13 PM John Karalis @John_Karalis
Jaylen Brown moved into Bazely to commit the foul, but Tatum went too early and put Brown in a tough spot. A lot of illegal screen calls are actually the ball handler’s fault, and I’d say this was one of those – 10:11 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Jaylen Brown has had enough. – 10:10 PM Steve Bulpett @SteveBHoop
Grant Williams gets hit in the head. Trainer checks him out and says, “Do you know who you are?”
Grant: pic.twitter.com/b6WhcOdPE0 – 10:10 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Ime Udoka was NOT happy to have to take that timeout. SGA went coast-to-coast with ease off a missed free throw. – 10:07 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Al Horford’s stat-line is pretty amazing right now:
3 points on 0-for-1 shooting
5 rebounds
8 assists
3 steals
3 blocks – 10:06 PM John Karalis @John_Karalis
Thunder do a great job of staying JUST close enough that you can’t rest your guys – 10:06 PM Abby Chin @tvabby
ATTN: @Gary Washburn
#Thunder mascot Rumble has pumped up the power shooting a bunch of tee shirts into the upper deck.
Wish you were here to see it!! – 10:01 PM Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Highest rookie scoring games of the season:
Franz Wagner: 38
Cade Cunningham: 34
Tre Mann: 33
Mann has 6 minutes to pass Wagner. – 9:57 PM Abby Chin @tvabby
Daniel Theis fouls out with 7:43 to go in the game.
Does that mean we get to see the Green Kornet soon?!? – 9:54 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Daniel Theis has fouled out with just under eight minutes to play. – 9:54 PM Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Daniel Theis fouls out in 19 minutes, just like the good ol times – 9:54 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Boston has kept OKC at bay, but the Thunder keep making mini-runs to stay just close enough to keep it a game. – 9:53 PM Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP
Philadelphia beats Miami without Embiid and Harden.
The top of the East will look like this in the morning…a virtual three-way tie for 2nd.
Miami 47-25 —
Philadelphia 44-27 2 1/2
Milwaukee 44-27 2 1/2
BOSTON 45-28 2 1/2 – 9:53 PM Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
The two best FT-shooting games in Heat history …
3/24/93 — 30 for 30 at Boston
3/21/22 — 20 for 20 at Philadelphia
Heat lost both games.
Moral of the story: Free throws are the devil, I guess. – 9:52 PM John Karalis @John_Karalis
What is it about Tre Mann to end halves? – 9:51 PM Eric Walden @tribjazz
FINAL: Nets 114, Jazz 106. A late 19-4 run gave Utah a smidge of hope, but too little too late. Durant 37p on 15-23 for Brooklyn. Don 30p, but on 9-23 FGs. JC 19p, Conley 18p, 7a, Gobert 11p, but only 4r. Utah now 45-27. Road trip continues in Boston on Wednesday. – 9:51 PM Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Only rookies with 2 30+ point games this season:
Tre Mann
Jalen Green
Only rookies with 3 29+ point games this season:
Tre Mann
Jalen Green – 9:51 PM Utah Jazz @utahjazz
Boston next.
#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/476xun4xNZ – 9:51 PM Andy Larsen @andyblarsen
Nets beat Jazz 114-106.
Durant: 37/8/8.
Mitchell: 30/3/3.
Clarkson: 19p, but on 7-19 FG.
Game where the Jazz could have used Bogdanovic’s efficiency on offense. On defense, though, 121 DRtg, and I’m not sure what answers the Jazz could have had.
Boston on Wednesday. – 9:49 PM Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
The Jazz fall to the Nets 114-106……Utah falls to 45-27 on the season. Durant was great. 37 on 15-23 shooting along with 9 rebounds and 8 assists. Mitchell had 30 for the Jazz. On to Boston. Game three of the trip – 9:49 PM Boston Celtics @celtics
COUNT IT pic.twitter.com/CodbzqaJy1 – 9:49 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Celtics regulars need about three good minutes here to start Q4 and then Ime Udoka can empty the bench to end the west coast trip. – 9:48 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Celtics lead 98-74 after three
Tatum – 29/6/5
Brown – 20 points
Batman – 18 points
Pritchard – 18 points
Horford – 3/4/8/3/3
White – 10/4/5
Celtics – 55.1% FGs
Celtics – 14-31 threes
Mann – 26 points
SGA – 17 points
Bazley – 17 points
Thunder – 45.1% FGs
Thunder – 11-25 threes – 9:47 PM Boston Celtics @celtics
🔘🔘🔘 pic.twitter.com/eySlLCEGB8 – 9:46 PM Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
18 points in 21 minutes for Payton Pritchard. – 9:46 PM John Karalis @John_Karalis
Celtics outscore OKC 43-33 in the 3rd — which means they did give up another 30 point 3rd quarter if you’re keeping track for streak purposes. the lead is up to 24 – 9:46 PM Boston Celtics @celtics
JT with the dime 🎯
Theis with the bucket 1⃣ pic.twitter.com/wR1ni0TRKe – 9:45 PM Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP
Another huge Celtics milestone…
After his first 25 shots in the NBA were all from 3…Sam Hauser attempts his first 2.
(No good…but worth the wait) – 9:41 PM Adam Himmelsbach @AdamHimmelsbach
I literally just sit here and eat Chex Mix for two hours and this road trip has me wiped out but the Celtics seem fine despite the time zone changes and 3 in 4 nights – 9:40 PM Joe Cowley @JCowleyHoops
Cavs have lost … but Celtics housing OKC. – 9:38 PM Oklahoma City Thunder @okcthunder
Baze gettin’ after it pic.twitter.com/d1LbWdZVQM – 9:34 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Tatum has 27 points. Brown has 20 points. 4:11 to go in the third quarter. Might be looking at another game where both hit the 30-point mark. – 9:33 PM Boston Celtics @celtics
Double team? No problem 💪🏽 pic.twitter.com/y4pGy5fNiy – 9:33 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
27 points for Jayson Tatum. Closing in on yet another 30-point game. – 9:30 PM Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Basically, once Durant got dropped, he decided the game was over. It’s been all Nets since. 63-36 Brooklyn since that moment. Nets lead the Jazz 108-87….on to Boston – 9:30 PM Oklahoma City Thunder @okcthunder
pic.twitter.com/x2n4K5szkS – 9:30 PM Eric Walden @tribjazz
Durant’s got 35, Nets lead by 21 … Jazz are cooked. On to Boston. 6:08 to play. – 9:30 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
That and-1 was Tatum being too big and too good for the Thunder defenders. – 9:29 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Grant Williams has tied his career-high of 18 points. – 9:24 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Derrick White hits a three and that was a big one too. – 9:22 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Damn SGA. That was sweet. – 9:22 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Grant Williams is up to 16 points. Batman’s career-high is 18 points, so he might get there fairly shortly. – 9:20 PM Royce Young @royceyoung
Tre Mann scored 23 of the Thunder’s 27 points in the second quarter. – 9:17 PM Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP
Real time update: Tatum 19 in the first half at OKC, DeRozan with 13 in the first half against Toronto.
As of 9:16pm eastern, they’re tied for the NBA scoring lead. pic.twitter.com/5SpZiaQZHl – 9:16 PM Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Tre Mann tied the Thunder rookie record for most 3s in a game…
…in one half. – 9:15 PM Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Tre Mann tried to tell us back in high school that he don’t miss: pic.twitter.com/7kkEFCeK6t – 9:15 PM Oklahoma City Thunder @okcthunder
at the halfway mark pic.twitter.com/cEdjxhkcBj – 9:14 PM Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Tre Mann set a Thunder rookie record with 23 points in the second quarter. His seven made 3-point field goals ties a Thunder rookie record for the most in a game (Pokuševski). – 9:11 PM Oklahoma City Thunder @okcthunder
high off the glass.. plus the foul! pic.twitter.com/rpC0IJNdgO – 9:07 PM Boston Celtics @celtics
Too good pic.twitter.com/5Yg3EhKx6K – 9:07 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Tre Mann in the first half:
26 points
9-12 shooting
7-7 three-pointers
Rest of the Thunder in the first half:
25 points
11-36 shooting
1-12 three-pointers – 9:06 PM Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Most points scored in a quarter by an NBA rookie this season:
1. Tre Mann: 23 points
2. Tre Mann: 20 points – 9:06 PM Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Tre Mann went 8/8 for 23 points and the Celtics won the quarter anyway because the rest of the Thunder shot 1/13. Celtics lead 65-51 at the half. – 9:05 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Celtics lead 65-51 at the half
Tatum – 19 points
Brown – 15 points
Batman – 13 points
Pritchard – 11 points
Horford – 3/4/5/2/3
Celtics – 51.1% FGs
Celtics – 8-21 threes
Mann – 26 points, 7-7 threes
Bazley – 10 points
Thunder – 41.7% FGs
Thunder – 8-19 threes – 9:05 PM Josh Giddey @joshgiddey
TRE MANN !!! – 9:04 PM Boston Celtics @celtics
Halfway through in OKC pic.twitter.com/RBV6mFY8ot – 9:04 PM Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Tre Mann scored 23 points in the 2nd quarter.
Second time in three games he’s had a 20+ point quarter.
Perfect 7-7 from 3 on the night.
Absolute steal. – 9:03 PM John Karalis @John_Karalis
Tre Mann was unreal in that second quarter. C’s might want to consider defending him. – 9:03 PM Jay King @ByJayKing
Grant Williams wants the nickname, but Tre is playing like the real BatMann. – 9:03 PM Royce Young @royceyoung
Tre Mann. Wow. What a first half. Hit another 3 — now 7-7 — and finished a tough and-1 over Derrick White. 26 points on 9-12 shooting. – 9:03 PM Abby Chin @tvabby
Someone come get this Mann!!
He is a perfect 7/7 from 3, 9/12 from the floor. Think I know what the #Celtics will be talking about in the locker room at the break. – 9:02 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
26 first-half points for Tre Mann. He’s been unbelievable so far tonight. – 9:02 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Tre Mann has basically single-handedly kept the Thunder in this game. – 9:02 PM Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Tre Mann is a spark plug. – 9:01 PM Oklahoma City Thunder @okcthunder
Mann on fire!
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/91yNBq07an – 9:01 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Tatum just sort of Eurostepped to switch-hand layup. – 8:57 PM Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Tre Mann has 15 points in 2 minutes and 26 seconds. – 8:55 PM John Karalis @John_Karalis
Tre Man just went supernova. He’s 6-6 from 3 and after a 15-4 OKC run, it’s now just an 11 point game – 8:55 PM Royce Young @royceyoung
Tre Mann is cooking. He’s hit six 3s in the first half — on 6-6 shooting — and just hit one in a four straight possessions. Set the building on fire with the fourth one. – 8:55 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Tre Mann on a personal run. He’s up to 18 points on 6-for-6 from three to cut Boston’s lead to 52-41. – 8:53 PM Oklahoma City Thunder @okcthunder
🎥🕺 pic.twitter.com/Rohin3Gz93 – 8:53 PM Jay King @ByJayKing
The Celtics have been badly outManned over the last couple of minutes. – 8:53 PM Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Tre Mann has back to back to back to back to back treys.
🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 – 8:53 PM Jon Hamm @JonMHamm
Tre Mann is going all Jayson Tatum out there – 8:53 PM Adam Himmelsbach @AdamHimmelsbach
Tre Mann with the rare in-rhythm heat check. He’s 6 for 6 from three now. – 8:53 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Al Horford 5×5 watch:
3 points
2 rebounds
5 assists
2 steals
3 blocks – 8:52 PM Boston Celtics @celtics
𝘚𝘗𝘓𝘈𝘚𝘏 pic.twitter.com/EAhzwwfK0Y – 8:49 PM Adam Himmelsbach @AdamHimmelsbach
Tatum passed up a few open looks early and seemed determined to get others involved.
Up until a minute ago, he’d taken just 3 shots. Then the Thunder pulled within 12.
Tatum drive, Tatum 3, Tatum 3.
46-26. – 8:46 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Tatum is Tatuming right now. – 8:46 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
He’s not going to win by any means, but Jayson Tatum should get some MVP in the 4 or 5 spots on ballots. – 8:45 PM Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
Jayson Tatum doing his best to lock up Eastern Conference Player of the Month with 10 days left in March. – 8:43 PM Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP
17th time this year the Celtics have led by 20 on the road. It’s the 5th straight time they’ve done it…and 11th in the last 13 road games.
(This does not happen in the NBA) pic.twitter.com/5h5KoaKgo6 – 8:43 PM Oklahoma City Thunder @okcthunder
plenty of time for Shai 🕺 pic.twitter.com/gp0OPrwYkx – 8:42 PM Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
SGA just embarrassed Derrick White so badly he’s gotta start going by Derrick Red. – 8:40 PM John Karalis @John_Karalis
We’ve got second quarter Sam Hauser minutes – 8:40 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Sam Hauser was going to check in at the end of the first quarter, but instead he’s starting the second quarter. – 8:39 PM Mark Murphy @Murf56
Payton Pritchard is now 12-13 from downtown in his last nine quarters. – 8:39 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Celtics lead 38-21 after one
Grant – 10 points
Brown – 9 points
Pritchard – 9 points
Horford – 3/1/5/2/2
Celtics – 57.1% shooting
Celtics – 6-13 three-pointers
Bazley – 7 points
SGA – 4 points
Thunder – 33.3% shooting
Thunder – 1-6 three-pointers – 8:38 PM Adam Himmelsbach @AdamHimmelsbach
Derrick White and Al Horford combined for all 9 Celtics assists in that first quarter.
White’s shot remains off but he’s been making an impact in a lot of ways. – 8:38 PM Boston Celtics @celtics
Strong start 💪 pic.twitter.com/SNYJZjuMcq – 8:38 PM Royce Young @royceyoung
That wasn’t a great first quarter for OKC but SGA ended it with spicy step-back 3 that put Derrick White on skates. Even White knew he got got, busting out a big smile after SGA’s 3 dropped. – 8:37 PM Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Celtics first quarter FG% on this road trip:
OKC: 57.1%
DEN: 60.9%
SAC: 58.3%
GSW: 39.1% – 8:37 PM Tom Westerholm @Tom_NBA
It is deeply statistically unlikely that Derrick White would continue to miss 3-pointers, and yet here we are lol – 8:36 PM Abby Chin @tvabby
Early Sam Hauser minutes coming your way on @nbcsboston! #Celtics already shooting 50% from 3. – 8:35 PM StatMuse @statmuse
The Celtics have led by 20+ points in their last 4 games:
24 vs Warriors
29 vs Kings
28 vs Nuggets
They led OKC 31-11 in the 1Q tonight. pic.twitter.com/yCHj7wvHfC – 8:32 PM Boston Celtics @celtics
Back the other way 🔨 pic.twitter.com/gGs5yXbaX7 – 8:31 PM Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
The great Payton Pritchard 3-pointer streak of 2022 has come to a close with 10 makes in a row over three games. – 8:30 PM Chris Grenham @chrisgrenham
I’m beginning to think Payton Pritchard may never miss a 3-pointer again. – 8:29 PM Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
10 straight makes from 3-point range for Payton Pritchard. What an insane run for him. – 8:28 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Al Horford with five assists and two steals already, because he’s really a 6’10” point guard. And he’s not afraid to take a jumper either. – 8:27 PM Boston Celtics @celtics
🦇🦇🦇 pic.twitter.com/GoEnO5OgQe – 8:27 PM John Karalis @John_Karalis
The Celtics are just showing off right now. 28-11 with 5:23 still to play. They’re 9-12 from the field and already 7-8 from the line. They’ve forced 3 turnovers which have led to 5 points. Grant Williams has 10 points – 8:25 PM Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
At this rate, someone will probably end up making a Beautiful Game montage from this Celtics road trip. – 8:25 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Outstanding ball movement ends in Brown drilling an open three.
The Celtics have 28 points on 9-of-12 shooting in 6:37. – 8:25 PM Adam Himmelsbach @AdamHimmelsbach
Celtics are on pace for 194 points – 8:24 PM Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
That Shai Gilgeous-Alexander step through pic.twitter.com/bH4NtrQaDB – 8:24 PM Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
This Thunder defense makes the Kings look like the Celtics – 8:22 PM Oklahoma City Thunder @okcthunder
catch and attack pic.twitter.com/TeXQVBTXQf – 8:20 PM Joe Cowley @JCowleyHoops
Lots of good scores around the league for the Bulls right now … besides the Celtics. – 8:19 PM Mark Murphy @Murf56
Al Horford with four assists over the first three minutes in a 17-2 run. – 8:18 PM Boston Celtics @celtics
JB getting crafty for 2⃣+1⃣ pic.twitter.com/PinmksNjVB – 8:17 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Al Horford has four assists in less than four minutes. – 8:17 PM Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Celtics now have 13-0 and 11-0 starts on this road trip against the two non-playoff teams they’ve faced and had second-quarter blowouts against the two playoff teams they visited. – 8:17 PM Ben Rohrbach @brohrbach
Celtics on pace to beat the Thunder 360-0. It’s still early. Could get worse. – 8:15 PM Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
This Boston defense. Sheesh. – 8:14 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
13-0 Celtics after two minutes. Guess there weren’t any focus issues to start this one. – 8:14 PM Adam Himmelsbach @AdamHimmelsbach
Celtics needed just 1 minute, 46 seconds to open up a double-digit lead against the Thunder.
Now 13-0. – 8:14 PM John Karalis @John_Karalis
The Celtics scoring off a couple of very nice cuts and opening up on a 7-0 run – 8:14 PM Oklahoma City Thunder @okcthunder
Up first in OKC!
Presented by @EnergyTransfer pic.twitter.com/yj09MFSs9k – 8:10 PM Boston Celtics @celtics
Derrick White says we’re focused on containing the young talent on the Thunder tonight as we look to go 4-0 on the road trip. pic.twitter.com/1r2zy9n4FT – 7:52 PM Oklahoma City Thunder @okcthunder
teamwork on and off the court
@Tre Mann 🤝 @Aleksej Pokusevski pic.twitter.com/RANeooKEJs – 7:29 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Good opportunity tonight for Ime Udoka to get guys some minutes who don’t play a lot.
Aaron Nesmith, Sam Hauser or Nik Stauskas could all be in line for bigger roles. Same for Luke Kornet, if Boston wants to go a bit bigger up front with Rob Williams out. – 7:26 PM Mark Murphy @Murf56
Udoka added that he doesn’t expect Williams to miss more than one game – an important note considering that the Celtics host Rudy Gobert and the Jazz Wednesday. – 7:15 PM Mark Murphy @Murf56
Ime Udoka said that Rob Williams’ tendinitis-related absence wasn’t planned vs. OKC: “He had a flare up with some tendinitis, specifically on the lob play last night. I saw when it happened. Jumped off the wrong leg and I saw him rubbing (his right knee) and it flared up a bit.” – 7:14 PM Boston Celtics @celtics
Starting 5⃣ feat. @Derrick White and @Grant Williams pic.twitter.com/xbK7X6q83h – 7:12 PM Jay King @ByJayKing
Ime Udoka on Robert Williams, who won’t play tonight: “He had a flare up with some tendinitis, specifically on the lob play last night.” – 7:07 PM Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
Celtics depth chart vs. Thunder
Guards: Brown, White, Pritchard, Stauskas
Forwards: Tatum, G. Williams, Nesmith, Hauser, Fitts
Bigs: Horford, Theis, Kornet
OUT: R. Williams (knee), Smart (non-COVID illness) – 6:48 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Aaron Nesmith is available to play tonight, per Ime Udoka. No restrictions on Nesmith’s minutes. – 6:42 PM Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
Aaron Nesmith will be active tonight per Ime Udoka after missing last few weeks with sprained ankle. – 6:42 PM John Karalis @John_Karalis
Derrick White and Grant Williams will start for Smart/Rob. No restrictions on other guys who are playing.
Aaron Nesmith is a go – 6:42 PM Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP
Derrick White and Grant Williams move into the starting lineup tonight with Smart and Rob Williams out. – 6:42 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Derrick White and Grant Williams will start in place of Marcus Smart and Robert Williams tonight, per Ime Udoka. – 6:42 PM Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
Celtics will start Derrick White and Grant Williams tonight in place of Smart/Rob Williams per Udoka. – 6:42 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Robert Williams is getting a planned rest night, per Ime Udoka. This is despite the knee tendinopathy designation.
Marcus Smart is out due to the sinus issues that were bothering him yesterday in Denver.
Neither is expected to be a long-term absence per Udoka. – 6:41 PM Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
Rob Williams getting the night off was a planned rest tonight per Ime Udoka. – 6:39 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will play for OKC tonight.
Olivier Sarr is OUT with the flue Darius Bazley is questionable with flu-like symptoms. – 6:39 PM Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Mark Daigneault on Horford “only focused on winning” the first game of the year against the Hornets Al took “two shots in the first half, and I looked down and said wow I have Al Horford on the team and he only has two shots, but he doesn’t care, all he cares about is winning.” – 6:31 PM Oklahoma City Thunder @okcthunder
super sport utility 🏎 pic.twitter.com/oJP4AdWU8A – 6:28 PM Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP
OKC’s leading scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will play for the Thunder tonight against Boston. – 6:25 PM Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Mark Daigneault said Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is available and Olivier Sarr is OUT with the flu, Darius Bazley is questionable with flu like symptoms. – 6:25 PM Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
SGA will play vs the Celtics tonight. – 6:25 PM Boston Celtics @celtics
Jayson Tatum joined some elite company by earning his second Player of the Week award within the same month.
nba.com/celtics/news/s… – 6:15 PM Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
Jaylen Brown loves the freedom of being a sneaker free agent, and wants to ‘shift the mold of the athlete’ with his next deal #Celtics bostonglobe.com/2022/03/21/spo… via @BostonGlobe – 6:13 PM Oklahoma City Thunder @okcthunder
The Thunder returns to OKC for the second of back-to-back games tonight against the Boston Celtics.
🎥 |@OUHealth Game Day Report pic.twitter.com/d5KQdIR7IQ – 6:06 PM Lang Greene @LangGreene
Falcons don’t know it yet, but they are going to miss the hell out of Matt Ryan. Amazing consistency. Couple of elite years. Mostly above average years. Could pencil him in for 3.8k yards and 25-30 TDs every year. And didn’t miss games. Doesn’t grow on trees. – 5:53 PM Sopan Deb @SopanDeb
grant williams trying to nickname himself “batman” is reminiscent of when glen davis didn’t want to be called big baby anymore, and instead insisted his nickname be “ticket stub” – 5:48 PM Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
That Chicago-Milwaukee-Memphis season-ending trip could be the biggest in years for #Celtics in terms of seeding. – 5:16 PM John Karalis @John_Karalis
Grant Williams is really leaning into this. It’s tough to break into the “give yourself your own nickname” game… But he’s trying pic.twitter.com/QcHSNjofJC – 5:02 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Boston jumping up to that 2-3 bracket and Philly falling into the 4-5 doesn’t feel like the worst thing in the world for Miami – 4:49 PM Boston Celtics @celtics
Batman stays ready 🦇 pic.twitter.com/jHESvKOdBo – 4:48 PM Emiliano Carchia @Sportando
Jayson Tatum, Karl-Anthony Towns named NBA Players of the Week sportando.basketball/en/jayson-tatu… – 4:15 PM Steve Bulpett @SteveBHoop
Jayson Tatum chosen NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week.
Interesting to note Jaylen Brown was among the nominees, with Kevin Durant, Darius Garland, Tyler Herro and Pascal Siakam.
Wonder how often two players from the same team get close in the same week. Says something. – 3:47 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Tyler Herro was a nominee for the Eastern Conference Player of the Week award that just went to Jayson Tatum. – 3:41 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Tyler Herro a nominee for NBA East Player of the Week that went to the Celtics’ Jayson Tatum – 3:37 PM Chris Vivlamore @CVivlamoreAJC
Matt Ryan’s replacement, from the Falcons: We have agreed to terms on a two-year contract with QB Marcus Mariota. – 3:36 PM StatMuse @statmuse
Celtics 4Q point differential
Before new year: -77 (2nd worst)
After new year: +114 (2nd best)
(Submitted by @KozmoAndre) pic.twitter.com/0hQBTvdeME – 3:36 PM Chris Grenham @chrisgrenham
Jayson Tatum has now won two of the last three Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors.
Week 20: 41.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 5.0 APG
Week 22: 29.3 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 5.0 APG
Some ridiculous numbers from Tatum of late. Celtics were a combined 6-0 over those two weeks. – 3:34 PM Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Jayson Tatum and Karl Anthony Towns have won NBA player of the week after they both won it two weeks ago. – 3:32 PM Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
Jayson Tatum named Eastern Conference Player of the Week. #Celtics. #NBA – 3:32 PM Boston Celtics @celtics
Player of the Week once again 👏🏾 pic.twitter.com/OApdl9Vtv5 – 3:31 PM Cody Taylor @CodyTaylorNBA
Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum have been named the NBA Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for Week 22 of the 2021-22 season (March 14 – 20). pic.twitter.com/hEYBur270b – 3:31 PM Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
NBA Players of the Week for Week 22: Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns and Celtics forward Jayson Tatum. – 3:30 PM Marc Stein @TheSteinLine
Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns and Boston’s Jayson Tatum were just named Western and Eastern Conference Player of the Week by the NBA.
More NBA from me: marcstein.substack.com – 3:30 PM Michael Singer @msinger
Last night, Celtics fans turned Ball Arena into The Boston Garden. At just 20-14 at home on the season, where has Denver’s homecourt advantage gone? denverpost.com/2022/03/21/nug… – 3:08 PM Joe Mussatto @joe_mussatto
Thunder-Celtics injury report. SGA again listed as questionable. pic.twitter.com/9FkpMhBF8v – 2:52 PM Adam Wexler @AdamJWexler
Falcons going nowhere w/ a declining, huge-salaried Matt Ryan at QB. They save $ on this year’s cap, have 5 of 1st 82 picks (assuming it’s a Colts ’22 3rd they’re getting) in the ’22 Draft, incl. no. 8. After 4 straight disappointing seasons, they finally face reality. – 2:10 PM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
Matt Ryan has a 10-17 record against the Saints and one of those wins was against Trevor Siemian.
Gonna miss that guy. – 2:06 PM Adam Wexler @AdamJWexler
Falcons with Matt Ryan:
First 5 seasons: Won 56 games (lost only 22), 5 winning seasons. He missed just 2 games.
Last 9 seasons: Won 64 games (lost 80), 2 winning seasons. He missed just 1 game.
In 2021, he posted the lowest QBR of his career, by far.
2022: Colts starting QB – 2:04 PM