Thunder Survive Celtics in Nail-biter

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sets NBA record in OKC's 104-102 victory

Mar. 13, 2026 at 6:55am

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The Oklahoma City Thunder narrowly defeated the Boston Celtics 104-102 in a thrilling matchup. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way for OKC, scoring 35 points and dishing out 9 assists, while also setting an NBA record by extending his 20-point scoring streak to 127 games, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain. Chet Holmgren added 14 points and 9 rebounds, including the game-winning free throws. Jaylen Brown paced the Celtics with 34 points and 7 assists in the losing effort.

Why it matters

This victory keeps the Thunder in the playoff hunt in the Western Conference, while the Celtics missed an opportunity to gain ground on the top teams in the East. Gilgeous-Alexander's historic scoring streak also highlights his emergence as one of the league's elite young talents.

The details

In a back-and-forth affair, the Thunder managed to eke out the narrow victory thanks to strong performances from their young stars. Gilgeous-Alexander continued his torrid scoring pace, while Holmgren made the decisive plays down the stretch to secure the win. The Celtics fought hard, led by Jaylen Brown's big night, but ultimately came up just short.

  • The game was played on Thursday, March 13, 2026.

The players

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The 24-year-old point guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who set an NBA record by extending his 20-point scoring streak to 127 games, surpassing the previous mark held by Wilt Chamberlain.

Chet Holmgren

The 21-year-old power forward for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who scored 14 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, including the game-winning free throws.

Jaylen Brown

The 26-year-old small forward for the Boston Celtics, who led his team with 34 points and 7 assists in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“Shai just continues to amaze us with his scoring ability and leadership. To set an NBA record like that is truly special.”

— Mark Daigneault, Head Coach, Oklahoma City Thunder (ESPN)

“We had our chances, but just couldn't quite get over the hump. Hats off to the Thunder, they made the plays when it counted.”

— Joe Mazzulla, Head Coach, Boston Celtics (Boston Globe)

What’s next

The Thunder will look to build on this momentum as they continue their playoff push, while the Celtics will aim to bounce back in their next game.

The takeaway

This thrilling matchup between two of the NBA's rising young teams showcased the talent and competitiveness of the league's next generation of stars, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's historic performance for the Thunder.