Jayson Tatum led the Boston Celtics in a comeback, taking control of the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, winning 119–109.

progresifjaya.co.id, JAKARTA – The Boston Celtics returned to TD Garden on Wednesday night, March 25, 2026, US time, for a matchup that felt like more than just another regular-season game. Their opponents, the Oklahoma City Thunder, were defending champions, riding a 12-game winning streak and sitting atop the Western Conference standings. This matchup felt like it had all the ingredients to be a benchmark for the June finals.

Boston entered tonight’s matchup hoping to bounce back from recent losses and find their rhythm with a full roster. Facing one of the league’s most complete teams on both ends of the court, it was a great opportunity to see how they play defensively when the margin for error is so slim.

The match began with the Oklahoma City Thunder taking control. An early three-pointer from Luguentz Dort and the steady play of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put the Thunder ahead and overwhelmed the Boston Celtics.

Sam Hauser had his chances, but they all missed. It was a poor and out-of-sync performance for the Boston Celtics to start the first quarter. The Thunder’s play constantly disrupted dribbles and passing lanes, leading to sloppy possessions. These led to easy points for the Thunder.

There were some brief moments of excitement. Jayson Tatum broke the deadlock on the counterattack, Payton Pritchard hit a three-pointer off the bench, and Luka Garza provided some needed energy with a plus-one shot late in the quarter. Still, Oklahoma City controlled the game throughout the first quarter. The Thunder closed the first quarter on an 11-3 run to take a 31-20 lead into the second.

It was in the second quarter that the Boston Celtics really turned things around. And it was all led by superstar Jayson Tatum (JT). After starting the game with just 3-of-12 from two-point range and shooting below 30% for the first nine minutes, Tatum finally got things going.

A quick three-pointer early in the quarter reduced the deficit, and from there, he began to dictate the tempo of the game, both as a scorer and an assist provider. He attacked Holmgren off the dribble and found Queta for easy opportunities in the paint. Tatum began to read the Thunder’s defensive pressure and react. Gradually, the Boston Celtics began to take control.

The Boston Celtics’ defense tightened, a result of deliberate adjustments by Joe Mazzulla. After allowing Oklahoma City to operate comfortably in the first quarter, the Boston Celtics began forcing turnovers in the second quarter and forcing the Thunder back into a transition game. The Thunder worked harder until the shot clock expired. The energy of the game shifted from uncontrolled to controlled, and the Boston Celtics were able to respond appropriately.

At one point midway through the second quarter, Tatum scored or assisted on eight points in just over a minute. A double-digit deficit turned into a one-point deficit. Jaylen Brown then hit a three-pointer off a Tatum pass, forcing Mark Daigneault to call consecutive timeouts.

An 8-0 run capped by a Payton Pritchard three-pointer gave the Boston Celtics their first lead of the game. But Oklahoma City responded. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returned and quickly calmed things down for the Thunder. He easily got to his feet before Cason Wallace hit a three-pointer to erase the lead.

The final minutes turned the tide slightly in Oklahoma City’s favor. A hard offensive foul on Tatum, a failed challenge on a goaltending decision, and a last-second tip-in from Dort gave the Thunder a 53-49 lead heading into halftime. However, after trailing by as many as 13 points and appearing completely out of rhythm early in the game, the Boston Celtics rallied to keep the game within reach.

Oklahoma City began the third quarter looking ready to create distance, which has been their pattern all season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued his stellar performance, scoring easily and extending the Thunder’s lead early in the half. He also made seven of his first eight shots and hit three three-pointers.

But this time, the Boston Celtics didn’t let it slide. Jaylen Brown led the way with an aggressive attack, tearing through the defense and imposing his will after a quiet first half. Jayson Tatum also continued to draw the attention of several defenders and create space for others, although Oklahoma City remained focused on guarding him.

The Boston Celtics finally began to find their rhythm through physical play and hard work. Neemias Queta provided a spark inside, finishing drives despite physical contact. He provided one of the night’s most exciting moments with a thunderous dunk over Chet Holmgren to reignite TD Garden. Sam Hauser added a much-needed three-pointer after a long dry spell to help stabilize the offense.

From there, the game turned into a one-on-one battle. The Boston Celtics relied on their depth, with Baylor Scheierman providing an unexpected boost off the bench. He hit two confident three-pointers and defended well, even forcing a turnover at a crucial moment for Gilgeous-Alexander. Payton Pritchard then followed with a long-range three-pointer and a floater late in the game. The Boston Celtics began to produce more consistent offense against a Thunder defense that had controlled the game from the start.

The Boston Celtics made subtle defensive adjustments in the third quarter. Gilgeous-Alexander still found opportunities to score and finished with 26 points. However, the Boston Celtics began to make him work harder for his points and limited easy access to the inside of the court.

The result was a steady shift in momentum. After trailing for most of the night, the Boston Celtics finally took control late in the third quarter thanks to persistent pressure from Brown near the rim and timely shooting from their supporting cast. The Boston Celtics closed the third quarter with a strong performance, outscoring Oklahoma City 39-30 in the period to take an 88-83 lead into the fourth.

Boston Celtics Close Out Opportunities in the Fourth Quarter

The Boston Celtics’ match against the Western Conference leaders and defending champions, Oklahoma City Thunder ended 119 – 109 for the Boston Celtics’ victory.

Boston continued its second-half momentum in the fourth quarter by quickly establishing a comfortable lead. Neemias Queta made an impact, extending possessions under the basket and helping extend the lead to its largest of the night early in the quarter.

Queta found Sam Hauser in the corner for a wide-open three-pointer that went in. The Boston Celtics began to find their offensive rhythm and widened the lead with a pick-and-roll strategy between Jayson Tatum and the center.

Whether it was Queta or Luka Garza running the screen, the action consistently resulted in good shooting opportunities. Tatum controlled the tempo, got physical contact, and hit three free throws after Alex Caruso jumped. A few possessions later, he passed to Garza on a roll for an easy finish. Oklahoma City’s defense continued to be exploited.

Baylor Scheierman also had one of the biggest moments of the night with a rebound dunk after Tatum missed a shot. He burst in from the corner and finished above the basket as the crowd roared. Shortly after, he hit a step-back three-pointer from a similar position to show his confidence.

Jaylen Brown also capitalized on the momentum with consistent pressure near the basket. He attacked the defense, earned free throw opportunities, and then converted a free throw after knocking down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, prompting loud “MVP” chants as the Boston Celtics extended their lead.

Although Gilgeous-Alexander continued to produce points offensively, the Boston Celtics remained in control. The Green Machine forced mistakes, limited second-chance opportunities, and got timely shots from Payton Pritchard, whose three-pointer extended the lead to 14 points midway through the quarter.

By this point, the Boston Celtics had found a steady rhythm on both ends of the court. Their offense was producing clean shooting opportunities, and their defense was effective enough to prevent Oklahoma City from mounting a defensive comeback.

Thunder’s Final Attack

The Thunder’s quick offensive drive in the fourth quarter narrowed the deficit to single digits. The Thunder continued to benefit from favorable referee decisions throughout the night. But the Boston Celtics responded with composure. They continued to attack the floor and earned free throw opportunities. Brown also remained aggressive as the game entered the final few minutes.

The Boston Celtics ultimately closed out the game with a score of 119–109, making it one of their biggest wins of the season. Their previous loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves was a welcome response to their best performance against the reigning Western Conference champions and reigning NBA champions.

They will try to maintain this momentum until Friday night, March 27, 2026, when they host the Atlanta Hawks at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Bembo)