Boston Celtics: Top 10 games from the first half of 2019-20
7. 2/9 @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Result: Win (112-111)
This may have been the most entertaining game the Boston Celtics played from start to finish. That statement is a good thing, but a bad thing as well. Let me explain.
Boston went down by nine points in the first half of the game. The first half was very competitive, with runs being answered by the opposition and runs of their own. For example, a 10-0 Celtics run in the 1st quarter was answered promptly with a 10-0 run from the Oklahoma City Thunder to end the quarter. Neither team could really gain any momentum and separation from the other, until the Thunder stepped on the gas.
The back-and-forth game persisted until the 4th quarter, which saw Boston take a semi-large lead on the Thunder. Boston led by 9 points with just over two minutes left, and yet the Celtics still managed to nearly throw the game away.
OKC had the chance to tie the game, but Marcus Smart did Marcus Smart things and stripped Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the ball, sealing the win for the C’s. Without Smart and his winning plays, it’s nearly impossible to imagine where Boston would be.
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Marcus Smart is the heart and soul of the Celtics, and any team would be lucky to have a guy like him in their locker room.
Winning plays from @smart_MS3 . Check out tonight's @JetBlue Play of the Game. pic.twitter.com/n73neHVJ47
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 9, 2020
This game was definitely a must-watch, and while there will be plenty more of those down the home stretch, this one stands out as one of the more even matchups.