Celtics clinch NBA’s best record with runaway win against OKC

Oklahoma Metropolis coach Mark Daigneault likened the Celtics’ efficiency this season to that of a Ferrari.

Boston’s newest victory over the Thunder earned it one more luxurious with the playoffs quick approaching.

Kristaps Porzingis had 27 factors, 12 rebounds and 5 blocks, serving to the Celtics energy previous the Thunder 135-100 on Wednesday night time to safe one of the best file within the NBA and home-court benefit all through the playoffs.

Boston, which gained its eleventh consecutive residence sport, improved to 60-16 on the season to notch its 14th 60-win season in franchise historical past. The one different franchise with at the least 10 such seasons is the Lakers, who’ve 11, in keeping with ESPN Stats & Data.

“We deserve it. I feel it is probably going to matter if we comply with by with the imaginative and prescient now we have for ourselves,” Porzingis mentioned.

The Celtics, who additionally had been led by Jayson Tatum’s 24 factors and Jaylen Brown’s 23 factors and 7 rebounds, trailed for under 62 seconds within the sport.

Brown likes the development the group has been making because the common season winds down.

“We’re not skipping any steps,” Brown mentioned. “Sixty wins. I feel we’re on observe. When the playoffs begin, it is again to sq. one.”

Boston coach Joe Mazzulla mentioned the milestone is one other achievement his group will not take as a right. However he additionally mentioned it is not one thing he needs the Celtics to dwell on.

“It’s totally onerous to do. We might by no means be on this place once more,” Mazzulla mentioned. “We talked about it as a group. We talked about it earlier than the sport, to attempt to deal with this sport because the clincher. To type of put that on ourselves to have the ability to try this. I feel it was vital for us to simulate that. … We should always get pleasure from it tonight, and when get up tomorrow — no one cares.”

Brown was questionable heading into the sport with a sprained left hand. He mentioned he obtained it examined after Boston’s win at Charlotte on Monday and described it as a sprained ligament.

“I feel it is positive. It is one thing I am not involved with transferring ahead,” he mentioned. “But it surely bothered me slightly bit tonight.”

Boston led by as many as 16 within the first half earlier than Oklahoma Metropolis minimize it to 6 factors within the third quarter. Main by 10 after three, the Celtics opened the fourth with a 12-4 run to stretch their result in 105-87.

Josh Giddey led Oklahoma Metropolis with 17 factors. Luguentz Dort added 15 factors. The Thunder completed with 14 turnovers and had been simply 5-of-24 from past the arc.

OKC performed with out All-Star and main scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who sat for the fourth time in 5 video games with a bruised proper quadriceps. Jalen Williams missed his second straight with a sprained left ankle.

Data from The Related Press was used on this report.