Thunder 101, Celtics 83
Serge Ibaka recorded a game-high 21 points as visiting Oklahoma City rolled over Boston despite playing without the league’s leading scorer, Kevin Durant.
Jeremy Lamb registered 19 points off the bench while Reggie Jackson scored 14 and handed out eight assists for the Thunder, who won their sixth straight. Thabo Sefolosha had 13 points and Perry Jones added 10 as Oklahoma City shot 53.8 percent with Durant sitting out due to a sore shoulder.
Jeff Green scored 16 points to pace the Celtics, who finished 5-of-27 from 3-point range and lost for the 13th time in 15 games. Gerald Wallace collected 13 points and Brandon Bass had 11 for Boston, which turned the ball over 17 times – 10 in the first half.
Wallace scored eight points to lead the way as the Celtics made 11-of-15 shots from the field and edged in front 28-27 after one quarter. Lamb scored 15 in the first half, including four during a 14-2 run that gave the Thunder a nine-point advantage before they settled for a 50-46 lead at intermission.
Boston was within three early in the third quarter before Oklahoma City ran off 24 of the next 29 points – nine by Jackson – and took a 77-59 lead into the final 12 minutes. The Celtics pulled within 14 early in the fourth, but Derek Fisher scored the next five points and the Thunder cruised from there.
GAME NOTEBOOK: It was the first time in Oklahoma City history that both Durant and G Russell Westbrook, who is recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery, did not play in a game. … Boston’s second-leading scorer, G Avery Bradley, missed his second straight game with an ankle injury. … Former Celtic C Kendrick Perkins pulled down nine rebounds for the Thunder, who are 12-2 against Eastern Conference opponents.