Thunder face the Celtics on 9-game slide
Boston Celtics (44-28, fourth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (20-51, 14th in the Western Conference)
Oklahoma City; Monday, 8 p.m. EDT
LINE: Thunder -13.5; over/under is 216.5
BOTTOM LINE: Oklahoma City looks to break its nine-game losing streak when the Thunder take on Boston.
The Thunder have gone 9-26 at home. Oklahoma City is fourth in the Western Conference with 35.4 defensive rebounds per game led by Josh Giddey averaging 6.0.
The Celtics are 20-16 on the road. Boston is 3-8 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The two teams square off for the second time this season. The Celtics defeated the Thunder 111-105 in their last meeting on Nov. 21. Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 33 points, and Luguentz Dort led the Thunder with 16 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is scoring 24.4 points per game with 5.0 rebounds and 5.9 assists for the Thunder. Darius Bazley is averaging 16 points and 5.2 rebounds over the last 10 games for Oklahoma City.
Tatum is scoring 26.9 points per game and averaging 8.2 rebounds for the Celtics. Payton Pritchard is averaging 2.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Boston.
LAST 10 GAMES: Thunder: 1-9, averaging 108.7 points, 44.8 rebounds, 23.3 assists, 8.7 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 44.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.6 points per game.
Celtics: 8-2, averaging 114.1 points, 44.8 rebounds, 26.4 assists, 6.9 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 104.1 points.
INJURIES: Thunder: Josh Giddey: out (hip), Ty Jerome: out for season (hip), Kenrich Williams: out (knee), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: out (ankle), Jeremiah Robinson-Earl: out (foot), Derrick Favors: out (back), Mike Muscala: out for season (ankle), Luguentz Dort: out for season (shoulder).
Celtics: Aaron Nesmith: out (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by
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