Stephen A. Smith was right. For once, the man yelling from ESPN’s perch actually nailed it. The Boston Celtics, even without Kristaps Porzingis, absolutely punked the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night, winning 135-100. That 35-point margin isn't just a win; it's a statement, a flex, a "don't even think about it" to the rest of the NBA. Coming off a 104-91 victory over the Pelicans just two days prior, Boston looks like a team not just good, but utterly dominant.
Jayson Tatum, as usual, led the charge with 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists in just 30 minutes. He barely broke a sweat. Jaylen Brown chipped in 23 points on a ridiculously efficient 9-of-14 shooting. But it wasn't just the stars. Al Horford, at 37, turned back the clock with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks, making Chet Holmgren look like a kid playing against his dad. The Celtics shot 55.3% from the field and drained 21 threes, many of them wide open. That's the scariest part: the ball movement was crisp, the defense suffocating, and the shot selection mature.
The Thunder, bless their hearts, just weren't ready for that kind of intensity. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has been an MVP candidate all season, was held to 16 points on 5-of-12 shooting. He looked frustrated, a rare sight for SGA. Josh Giddey managed 17 points, but it was mostly empty calories in a blowout. Holmgren, the promising rookie, had a tough night, scoring 11 points but getting pushed around by Horford and Luke Kornet. OKC shot a paltry 37.5% from beyond the arc and turned the ball over 11 times. This wasn't just an off night; this was a fundamental mismatch. The Thunder are young, fast, and exciting, sitting at second in the Western Conference with a 52-23 record before this game. But they haven't seen a team with Boston's combination of size, skill, and sheer offensive firepower. This loss should humble them, make them realize the gap between "really good" and "championship contender."
Here's the thing: people keep talking about parity in the NBA, about how the West is so deep. Real talk: the Celtics are proving that when they're locked in, there isn't a team in the Western Conference that can consistently hang with them for seven games. Their 60-16 record speaks for itself. They have the league's best offense (122.9 offensive rating) and the second-best defense (110.8 defensive rating). No other team is top-three in both. Their net rating of +12.1 is historically good, better than many championship teams. The Nuggets are great, the Wolves are tough, and the Thunder are talented, but none of them possess the sheer depth and two-way dominance of this Celtics squad.
My hot take? The chatter about the MVP race being wide open is silly. Nikola Jokic is incredible, but if the Celtics finish with 65+ wins and Tatum is the best player on the best team by a significant margin, he should be in that conversation more seriously. He's averaging 27.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists. The narrative just isn't there for him like it is for Jokic or SGA.
Bold prediction: The Boston Celtics will win the NBA Finals in five games, regardless of who emerges from the Western Conference.