Field Level Media
Feb 3, 2019
Kyrie Irving racked up 30 points and 11 assists to lead the Boston Celtics to a 134-129 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder at home on Sunday.
The win was the fourth consecutive and the ninth in the last 10 for the Celtics. The Thunder's seven-game winning streak was snapped.
Paul George led the Thunder with 37 points but was just 5 of 16 from behind the 3-point line.
Irving hit a critical floater with 23 seconds remaining with the Celtics clinging to a two-point lead. He drove past Terrance Ferguson, and let go of the floater over the outstretched arms of Thunder 7-footer Steven Adams. Russell Westbrook, coming over to help, got his finger on the shot, but it fell through the basket to extend Boston's lead.
Westbrook had a monster game once again -- 22 points, 16 assists and 12 rebounds -- but his critical turnover with 8.1 seconds left and Oklahoma City down by two helped Boston escape with the win.
The Thunder got a 3-pointer from Jerami Grant right after Irving's floater, then got the ball back after Jayson Tatum missed the second of two free throws to keep Oklahoma City's hopes alive.
But Westbrook lost the ball charging toward the basket, and Tatum made both free throws at the other end.
Westbrook had his sixth consecutive triple-double and his 19th this season. Westbrook now has three streaks of six or more consecutive triple-doubles in his career.
Marcus Smart hit big shot after big shot to lift the Celtics to the lead for the final time.
With just less than seven minutes remaining in the third, Oklahoma City took the lead before Boston roared back. Smart hit a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to ignite a 14-0 run that lasted more than three minutes. It was one of three 3-pointers Smart hit during the stretch.
Irving was 14 of 19 from the field in the win. Eight players scored in double figures for Boston
Boston was without center Aron Baynes, who missed the game with a left foot contusion. Baynes, who missed 13 games earlier this season with a broken hand, will miss "a few weeks," he told reporters before the game.
--Field Level Media