Five most significant games of the OKC Thunder in the 2022-23 season

Boston dominates OKC in the clutch

Young teams often struggle to close out games, especially on the road. This game certainly showed the OKC Thunder’s age.

The OKC Thunder had a surprisingly strong start, survived in the middle, and finally faltered in the end as the Boston Celtics took a 122-126 win over the visitors on November 15.

Thunder built a comfortable 15-point lead in the third quarter predicated on solid defensive activities, and some great inside incursions by the usual suspects Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Lu Dort, and Jalen Williams.

Meanwhile, the game was right in the middle of Aleksej Pokusevski’s best stretch of basketball in his NBA career, showing immense impact on the floor with three blocks, 14 rebounds, alongside 16 points on an efficient 7-of-12 shooting from the field.

However, it was also one of the first sight of a Poku injury as he rolled his ankle and subsequently hurt the Thunder’s defensive resistance in the paint. Poku, though, came back, albeit on conservative feet, as Boston’s offense proved to be too much for the youthful Thunder down the stretch.

To put in perspective the meltdown the Thunder had, OKC’s number of turnovers in the entirety of first half only were at six, while in the second half saw them turn the ball over seven times each of the ensuing third and fourth quarter.

Be that as it may, it was one of those losses that a young team needs. These losses build character and provide the team some great reps to move forward to the ultimate goal. The short handed Thunder eventually got revenge on Boston in a blow out win in Bricktown.