(SportsNetwork.com) – The Boston Celtics will try to extend their winning
streak to three games Wednesday night when they welcome the struggling
Oklahoma City Thunder to TD Garden.
The Celtics defeated the Indiana Pacers at home on Friday, then picked up
their most impressive victory of the season on Saturday – a 106-101 road win
over the Chicago Bulls.
Evan Turner started in place of Rajon Rondo and totaled 19 points, six assists
and five rebounds in the win. Rondo sat out after having screws removed from
his surgically repaired left hand Saturday morning, and Marcus Smart began
mending a sprained left ankle he suffered in Friday’s win over the Pacers.
“Screws were irritating me a little bit,” admitted Rondo.
The Celtics shot 52 percent from the floor and saw seven players score in
double figures. Kelly Olynyk contributed 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Jeff
Green added 14.
The C’s led by 16 after three quarters, but the Bulls rallied. It was a three-
point game with a minute to go, but Olynyk made 1-of-2 at the foul line with
45.8 seconds remaining.
Chicago scored at the other end, but Olynyk came down with a huge offensive
rebound and stayed inbounds to extend Boston’s next possession. Turner was
fouled with 17.7 ticks left and made both free throws, and Jimmy Butler missed
an elbow jumper to all but seal the outcome.
“We weathered the storm and made some plays,” Olynyk said. “We found a way.”
The Celtics will host LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, then the
Phoenix Suns on this homestand.
The Thunder ended a three-game slide on Sunday, but laid an egg on Tuesday
night in Milwaukee. OKC fell to the Bucks, 85-78, for its lowest regular-
season offensive output since April 16, 2012.
“We didn’t make shots,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. “Not one guy is
trying to go out there and miss shots, but we can help ourselves make shots by
moving our bodies and moving the basketball.”
Reggie Jackson poured in a career-high 29 points for Oklahoma City, while
Serge Ibaka and Anthony Morrow tallied 12 and 10, respectively. Steven Adams
pulled down 10 rebounds in the loss.
The Thunder have dropped four of their last five overall and their last seven
straight on the road dating back to last season.
The Thunder have won three straight against the Celtics and six of the
previous seven meetings. Oklahoma City has taken four of its last five
matchups in Boston.
