Thunder size up the champs, host Celtics for shot at 15 straight

Game Info: OKC (29-5) vs. BOS (26-9)

Tip-off: 2:30 PM | Broadcast: Local/League Pass

3⚡Big⚡Things⚡

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⚡ The Big Game

The Thunder aren't pretending that this is just another game. We already know OKC will most likely finish near or at the top of the West, and that the defending champion Celtics is the most likely Eastern foe should they advance to the Finals.

They're playing for their 15th straight win and 30th overall against the champs. It's a big one.

⚡Poor League Choices

It's been kind of a pile-on lately for Adam Silver's dwindling ratings numbers. When ratings drop, a lot of people who watch the sport start explaining how others would watch it if it was more to their own liking. All that to say, the league's baffling choice to slow play OKC with the national spotlight continues to be the result of bad decision making. There's no good reason this game isn't nationally televised.

⚡ Tough Defensive Choices

The Celtics have built the prototype for the kind of modern, deep style of two-way basketball that OKC has been putting together. How the Thunder scheme and perform against Boston on defense should be fascinating. They lack weaknesses around the arc and don't invite much backcourt activity at the point of attack; Oklahoma City thrives when picking on vulnerabilities, but there are few cracks to exploit against the Cs.

Prediction: OKC 96 BOS 95

I see some Shai vs. Tatum crunchtime highlights on our immediate future.