OKC Thunder Starting Lineup Revealed Vs. Celtics

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looks to extend 20-point game streak to 127 games against Boston

Mar. 13, 2026 at 3:23am

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The Oklahoma City Thunder (51-15) will host the Boston Celtics (43-22) in a potential NBA Finals preview on Thursday night. Both teams are missing key players, with the Thunder down All-NBA swingman Jalen Williams and starting center Isaiah Hartenstein, while the Celtics are without Jayson Tatum and Derrick White. The starting lineups for both teams have been announced, with the Thunder opting to give more playing time to Ajay Mitchell to help take pressure off Shai Gilgeous-Alexander against the Celtics' defense. Gilgeous-Alexander is looking to extend his 20-point game streak to a record-setting 127 straight games, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain.

Why it matters

This matchup between two of the NBA's top teams is a potential Finals preview, and the absence of key players for both sides adds intrigue. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's pursuit of the 20-point game streak record also makes this a must-watch game for NBA fans.

The details

The Thunder have put Ajay Mitchell in the starting lineup, which will help take the pressure off Gilgeous-Alexander from the Celtics' harassing defense. This gives the Thunder another scoring punch on the court and can spread the Celtics' defense thin. Gilgeous-Alexander is currently tied with Wilt Chamberlain for the longest streak of 20-point games at 126, and he'll look to set a new record against the Celtics.

  • The game is scheduled for Thursday, March 13, 2026.

The players

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

An All-NBA swingman for the Oklahoma City Thunder who is looking to extend his 20-point game streak to a record-setting 127 straight games.

Ajay Mitchell

A key player for the Oklahoma City Thunder who has been given more playing time in the starting lineup to help take pressure off Gilgeous-Alexander.

Jayson Tatum

An All-Star forward for the Boston Celtics who is out for this game.

Derrick White

A guard for the Boston Celtics who has been ruled inactive for this game.

Mark Daigneault

The head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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What’s next

The Thunder will look to finish their homestand strong on Sunday when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves in another nationally televised game.

The takeaway

This matchup between the Thunder and Celtics is a potential NBA Finals preview, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's pursuit of the 20-point game streak record adds even more intrigue to the game. The absence of key players for both teams will also be a factor to watch as the teams try to gain an advantage.