NBA Picks 3/12 – OKC Thunder @ Boston Celtics

NBA Picks 3/12 – OKC Thunder @ Boston Celtics

by Thomas Quaynor for Wannamakeabet.com

Two of the NBA’s top teams face off tonight in what could be an NBA Finals preview as the West-leading Oklahoma City Thunder (53-12) visit the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics (47-18) at TD Garden on ESPN. This will be the second and final regular season matchup between the title contenders. The Thunder knocked off the visiting Celtics 105-92 on Jan. 5, they limited the Celtics to just 12 fourth quarter points en route to pulling out the victory. Oklahoma City has won three of the last four against the Celtics. Boston is a 3-point favorite and the total is 229. 

Oklahoma City is coming off a 140-127 loss to the Denver Nuggets at home on Monday night. The teams also played the day before in Oklahoma City with the Thunder picking up a convincing 127-103 win. In Monday’s loss, Oklahoma City held a 73-67 lead at halftime but were outscored 73-54 after the intermission. Oklahoma City All-Star Jalen Williams suffered a right hip strain late in the second quarter and did not return. He totaled 12 points and six assists in 14 minutes before exiting the game. Williams is listed as out for tonight’s game.

Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 25 points (8-14 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 6-6 FT), seven assists, three rebounds, two blocks and a steal across 36 minutes during Monday’s loss to Denver. He registered 40 points in Sunday’s win against Denver. Lu Dort scored a team-high 26 points (9-16 FG, 8-14 3Pt) and added seven rebounds and four steals in 34 minutes. Dort’s points and steals were season highs. Isaiah Hartenstein added 20 points (8-16 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 4-4 FT) and seven rebounds over 26 minutes. Monday’s loss to Denver ended Oklahoma City’s seven-game winning streak.

NBA Picks 3/12 – OKC Thunder @ Boston Celtics

The short-handed Celtics defeated the lowly Utah Jazz 114-108 at home in their previous game on Monday night. Utah entered the game with a 15-49 record and a five-game losing streak. All-Star Jayson Tatum missed the game due to lingering right knee tendinopathy. Sharpshooting forward Sam Hauser drew the spot start for Tatum and scored a career-high 33 points while knocking down a season-best nine three-pointers over 35 minutes. Hauser connected on seven three-pointers in the third quarter alone. He became the 20th player in NBA history to do this. 

Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown added 26 points (8-20 FG, 0-5 3Pt, 10-11 FT), eight rebounds, seven assists, three steals and a block in 38 minutes against Utah. Boston has won five in a row and seven of their last eight games at home. The Celtics will play eight of their next nine games on the road after tonight’s contest against Oklahoma City.

GAME STORYLINES: OKLAHOMA CITY

Thanks to the stellar play of All-NBA guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and two years (2021 and 2022) of impeccable drafting — the Thunder selected Josh Giddy, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Aaron Wiggins and Jaylin Williams in those two drafts, the Oklahoma City Thunder were able to expedite their rebuild and quickly transition from one of the worst teams in the NBA to the Western Conference’s top team in just three seasons. Oklahoma City finished with a dismal 22-50 record in 2020-21 and improved to 57-25 by the 2023-24 season. 

Oklahoma City’s ascension has continued this season as they enter tonight’s game against Boston with a sparkling 53-12 record. The Thunder own the best record in the Western Conference and the second-best record overall in the NBA behind the 55-10 Cleveland Cavaliers. With 17 games left in the season, Oklahoma City has a good shot at breaking the franchise-record for wins in a season (64) which was set in 1995-96 when the franchise was known as the Seattle Supersonics. The 1995-96 Seattle Supersonics advanced to the NBA Finals where they lost to the 72-10 Chicago Bulls in six games.

NBA Picks 3/12 – OKC Thunder @ Boston Celtics

Superstar guard Shai-Gilgeous Alexander continues his individual dominance in year seven. The 26-year-old Kentucky product leads the NBA in scoring at 32.7 points per game on 52.7 percent shooting from the floor. He’s also averaging 6.2 assists, 5.1 rebounds, 1.8 steals, 1.1 blocks and 2.2 threes per game through 63 contests. He’s set to average 30 ppg for a third straight year. Alexander is also a pretty significant favorite (-400) to win the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award. 

Forward Jalen Williams elevated his game to an All-Star level this year in his third season, forming a formidable 1-2 combination with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The 23-year-old Santa Clara product is averaging career-highs of 21.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game this year. He has improved his averages in each of his first three years in the NBA. Williams was selected as an All-Star for the first time in his career this season. 

The trio of second-year power forward/center Chet Holmgren (14.6 pts, 8.3 rebs, 2.8 blks, 1.2 threes, 48.8% from 2), center Isaiah Hartenstein (11.1 pts, 11.2 rebs, 3.9 asts, 1 blks, 57.3% from 2) and reserve swingman Aaron Wiggins (11.6 pts, 3.8 rebs, 1.7 threes, 49.9% from 2, 39.6% from 3) have been tremendous in complimentary roles alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. Holmgren missed 39 games with a pelvic fracture and returned on Feb. 7. Hartenstein signed as a free agent during the offseason and was fantastic filling in for the injured Holmgren. Wiggins scoring and defense as a reserve and spot starter has been invaluable. 

GAME STORYLINES: BOSTON

After spending six seasons (2018-2023) winning a lot of games and making deep postseason runs but falling a bit short of capturing a title, the Boston Celtics atoned for their playoff shortcomings in a big way last year. The 2023-24 Celtics completed one of the most dominant seasons in NBA history last year when they won a league-high 64 games and cruised through the postseason with a 16-3 mark. Boston won its first NBA title since the 2007-08 season

The All-Star duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have been teammates since the 2017-18 season and have carried the Boston Celtics to extraordinary heights, particularly over the last three seasons. Boston advanced to the NBA Finals in 2022 and 2024, and made it to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals in 2023. Boston will likely finish as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference this year and are on a collision course to meet up with NBA-leading Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. 

Superstar forward Jayson Tatum is in the midst of arguably the finest season of his illustrious 8-year career in 2024-25 as he’s averaging 27.5 points along with career-highs of 8.9 rebounds and 5.8 assists through 60 games. He leads Boston in points, rebounds and assists. He was named an All-Star for the sixth time in his career and fifth consecutive season this year. His tag team partner Jaylen Brown is averaging 23.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.9 threes per game while shooting 46.1 percent from the floor. He was named an All-Star for a third straight year.

NBA Picks 3/12 – OKC Thunder @ Boston Celtics

The trio of Kristaps Porzingis (18.9 pts, 6.8 rebs, 1.6 blks, 2.4 threes, 47.4% from 2, 40.3% from 3), Derrick White (16.6 ppg, 4.4 asts, 4.3 rebs, 1 stl, 3.5 threes, 44.5% from 2) and super sixth man Payton Pritchard (14.2 pts, 3.8 rebs, 3.5 asts, 3.3 threes, 47.3% from 2, 42% from 3) have all made tremendous contribution alongside and in place of the All-Star duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The 27-year-old Pritchard has raised his scoring average from 9.6 ppg to 14.2 ppg this season. Pritchard and White made history when they became the first Celtics duo to each score 40 or more points in a game during a 128-118 win against Portland on March 5. 

THE PICK: CELTICS (-3)

I think the Celtics will look to make a statement in tonight’s nationally televised matchup against an Oklahoma City team that they could see again in the NBA Finals. Also, Boston should have a big advantage as Thunder All-Star Jalen Williams will not be available tonight due to the hip injury. Lay the Points and take the Celtics tonight!