On Wednesday, March 12, the Boston Celtics hosted the Oklahoma City Thunder at TD Garden in the NBA. The Celtics, sitting second in the Eastern Conference, were riding a five-game win streak and were favorites to win. But the Thunder stayed composed and pulled off a 118-112 victory, handing Boston a rare home loss.
For OKC, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the difference-maker, dropping 34 points, seven assists, and five rebounds. In the postgame press conference, Celtics’ Jaylen Brown acknowledged Shai’s brilliance, calling him the key factor in the win.
Jaylen Brown Showers Praise on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Boston got a taste of playoff-level competition as two of the NBA’s best teams clashed. Led by Jayson Tatum (33 points), Derrick White (22 points), and Al Horford (18 points), the Celtics put up a fight. But in the end, Shai’s heroics sealed the deal for OKC. Brown, who has battled some of the league’s best, had nothing but praise for the Thunder star.
“That boy good. You know what I mean? That boy is good. Big fan of his game… He’s shifty, crafty, knows how to use his body well, draws fouls… you know, tough. Definitely a guy you watch and study to get better, especially if we end up playing them down the line. He’s a tough cover, he’s been playing some good basketball, and you’ve gotta tip your cap.”
Jaylen Brown on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had 34 points & 7 assists tonight:
“That boy good. That boy is good. Big fan of his game. Shifty. Crafty around the basket. Knows how to use his body well….Tough. Definitely a guy that you watch and you study to be better if we end… pic.twitter.com/bosE1FNvuV
— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) March 13, 2025
Brown, who locked down Luka Dončić just days ago in a matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers, struggled against the Thunder. The four-time All-Star managed just 10 points, two assists, and five rebounds, shooting 5-for-15 from the field and 0-for-5 from three.
In the postgame press conference, he took responsibility for not being aggressive enough.
“I didn’t get a free throw attempt tonight. That means I wasn’t aggressive enough or I wasn’t physical enough,” Brown admitted. “Even when [the referees] choose not to call fouls or whatever it is, I’m [usually] still able to get at least one free throw attempt. I had zero, so that just lets me know that I wasn’t aggressive enough.”
Meanwhile, Shai went 11-for-20 from the field—just one shot less than the total number of free throws made by the entire Celtics team. His ability to control the game and get to the line made the difference.
The Celtics now turn their attention to their next matchup against the Miami Heat, a team on a five-game losing streak. It’s the perfect opportunity for Boston to bounce back and regain momentum on their path to the NBA Finals.