Oklahoma City Thunder continued their dominant run, stretching the NBA’s longest active win streak to 13 games with a commanding 116-98 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics secured a dramatic 118-115 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, showcasing their resilience despite missing key players, MySportDab Reports.
Thunder Dominate Clippers in Second Half
The Western Conference-leading Thunder (28-5) overcame a slow start, trailing 52-48 at halftime, before a spectacular 42-20 third quarter flipped the game in their favor. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with 29 points and eight assists, while Isaiah Hartenstein added a solid 11 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.
“We wanted to come out and pick up the pressure,” Hartenstein said. “We weren’t playing with the force we wanted in the first half, but we turned it around.”
The victory extended the Thunder’s best win streak since relocating from Seattle in 2008.
Celtics Survive Late Timberwolves Rally
In Minneapolis, the Celtics were without Jaylen Brown (shoulder strain) and Kristaps Porzingis (ankle sprain) but still managed to grind out their third win in four games on a challenging road trip.
Jayson Tatum starred with 33 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists, while Derrick White contributed 26 points. Boston forced 16 turnovers while committing just four, a key factor in their victory.
Despite trailing 35-28 after the first quarter, the Celtics surged ahead 62-51 by halftime. Minnesota fought back, tying the game at 94-94 early in the fourth quarter. Donte DiVincenzo kept the Timberwolves in contention, sinking three free throws to bring them within 118-115 with 28 seconds left.
After Tatum missed a jumper, Anthony Edwards had a chance to force overtime but missed a three-pointer at the buzzer.
“We stuck with it,” Tatum said. “They hit tough shots, but we stayed committed to the game plan and competed.”
Around the League
In Miami, Tyrese Haliburton powered Indiana to a 128-115 victory over the Heat with 33 points and 15 assists. Myles Turner added 21 points for the Pacers.
The Brooklyn Nets edged the Milwaukee Bucks 113-110 in a nail-biter. Cameron Johnson led Brooklyn with 26 points, while Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 27 points and Damian Lillard’s 23 weren’t enough for Milwaukee, as late misses sealed the Bucks’ fate.
