Wednesday night’s clash was one of the best games of the season. Can we get seven more this spring? The possibilities and wrinkles would be endless
By Michael Pina | The Ringer | March 13, 2025
It’s rarely wise to issue concrete statements after a single night of regular-season basketball, but everybody who watched Wednesday’s potential NBA Finals preview between the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder can safely call it one of the best games of the year.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Even without Jalen Williams, Alex Caruso, and Kristaps Porzingis, the action on display rivaled what typically happens in a high-level playoff game. Pretty much everyone involved had an awareness of the moment, there was merciless shotmaking on both ends, and complex defensive schemes were enhanced by speed, effort, and physicality.
The Thunder won, which is undeniably impressive, especially since they were on the road and absent their All-Star wing. But coming in, we already knew how resilient and skilled they were. With 10 lead changes and Boston misfiring on a bunch of open 3s, the result is less important on its own than how it materialized.
Against a swarm of elite on-ball defenders who covered him straight up and in a matchup zone that essentially functioned as a soft double-team, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 34 points and looked like the top-tier MVP candidate he’s been … Read More HERE
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