Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivers blunt truth about Thunder's loss to Celtics

Wednesday's matchup at TD Garden may serve as a preview of this year's NBA Finals. The Boston Celtics delivered a statement win, knocking off the Oklahoma City Thunder, 119-109.

Before the game, Oklahoma City's head coach and Massachusetts native Mark Daigneault discussed his excitement for the test the Celtics would provide his team and the feedback they would get from this matchup.

"A team we have great respect for," said Daigneault. "They're a real challenge. They put you in dilemmas. Their personnel puts you in dilemmas. Their tactics put you in dilemmas. They'll have a good plan against us. It's a great opportunity for us to test ourselves and improve. These are the types of games we want to be playing in around this time of year, because they're good barometers of where you are, and you get accurate feedback. So, I'm excited to see what the game looks like tonight, and what we can take from it."

Boston was the more physical team at both ends of the floor. The hosts built decisive wins on the margins, including a 19-2 advantage in second-chance points. Afterwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shared his outlook on the loss.

"Every time you play the Boston Celtics, you get a playoff feel," said Gilgeous-Alexander. "No matter what day it is. No matter who's out there. They're super well-coached. They have really good players. I think it's one of the premier organizations in the league to play against. They bring it every night, no matter who's out there.

"They have a culture. They check all the boxes, and that's why they've been successful for the past years. So, it's a game that you see where you really are, and they test you. We got a test tonight, and we didn't pass."

The league's reigning MVP finished with a game-high 33 points. He also led his team with eight assists, and he swiped two steals. Yet it wasn't enough to propel the Thunder past the Celtics on a night when Boston played perhaps its best game this season.

Celtics deliver a statement win vs. Thunder

Oklahoma City took a 31-20 lead into the second quarter. However, the hosts had created a lot of quality opportunities that they hadn't capitalized on. As that changed, Boston seized control of the matchup. It began by putting 29 points on the board while holding the visitors to 22 in the 12 minutes before halftime. From there, they never looked back. They outscored the Thunder by 21 in the final three periods.

"The start was kind of like fool's gold," stated Gilgeous-Alexander post-game. "We made some shots, and they missed some wide-open ones. We had a 10-point lead, but personally, it didn't feel like it. Once the game settled into it, it felt like they got what they wanted for the majority of the game. Against a good team, that's never the recipe."

The Celtics did so by making the Thunder pay for blitzing pick-and-rolls. They also consistently capitalized when attacking Oklahoma City's smaller guards, such as Alex Caruso, Jared McCain, Ajay Mitchell, and Cason Wallace. That helped them accumulate a 34-24 edge in points in the paint. It also led to attempting three more free throws than their opponent and gaining that dominant advantage in second-chance scoring.

In this author's opinion, Jayson Tatum delivered his best performance this season. He registered 19 points, a game-high 12 rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and swooped in to swat a Luguentz Dort layup attempt.

Beyond his production, the six-time All-Star logged a season-high 35 minutes and played the entire fourth quarter. It's an encouraging sign as he continues ramping up, with the playoffs around the corner.

"I felt like that was a great, encouraging game for JT," said Jaylen Brown after the win. "High-level intensity, physical team, and it felt like that was a step in the right direction. We [are] still encouraging him to get back to that level of aggression that we know and are used to. But I think today was a great game of him making the right plays, making the right reads, being physical, and being Jayson Tatum, and I think it's a step in the right direction."

Brown also nearly notched a triple-double. The former Finals MVP finished with a team-high 31 points, eight assists, matching Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the most in the matchup, and eight rebounds.

The Celtics' stars' performances powered a victory where Boston sent a clear message. Even listening to Daigneault pregame, it didn't sound like one the Thunder needed to get convinced of. However, for any of their doubters, these two tilts against Oklahoma City, especially Wednesday's, showcased that this team can beat any opponent in a best-of-seven. A season that began with talk about whether this would be a gap year could end with a parade down Causeway Street.