Sunday’s thriller says more about the Thunder than it does about the Celtics

If you watch the Celtics as much as I do, you know that there are some nights where they, quite simply, “have it” and are an unstoppable basketball wagon.

You know it when you see it. Purpose. Energy. Conviction. Fluidity. Toughness. When those attributes are on display, they almost never lose. Their ceiling is the highest in the NBA, and it shows when everything is clicking.

In the first half Sunday night, the Celtics were on one of those extended heaters. They attacked the basket relentlessly, played for one another and exceeded Oklahoma City’s physicality. It seemed like they were about to make a major statement on the road.

Then, there was a shift. It started slowly, then suddenly, it evolved into an avalanche. The Thunder held Boston to 27 second-half points, earning an extremely impressive 105-92 win over a Celtics team playing at full strength and hungry to assert its dominance. Boston fell completely out of its element in the second half after dazzling in the first.

“They took advantage of our poor spacing and our poor screening,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters. “I think those are the two biggest things.”

Let those numbers sink in for a second. The Celtics scored 65 (!) points in the first half, then 27 (!) in the second half — fifteen in the third and 12 in the fourth. Yes, the 3-point shooting (19.6 percent for the game) was putrid. Yes, the offense became stagnant. Yes, the defense lost its edge.

All those things are true, but to me, this game says a heck of a lot more about the Thunder than it does about the Celtics. Boston will be just fine. It’s game three of a grueling four-game road trip, they’ve already notched two solid wins and they, frankly, ran out of steam. Those aren’t excuses; they’re just facts.

But what I didn’t see coming was just how much the Thunder took the life out of the Celtics in the fourth quarter. It was one of those games where you felt like you were watching it unfold in slow motion. You knew what was happening, but you couldn’t stop it. I imagine the Celtics had a similar experience playing in the game.

“I would say we didn’t play up to our level at all offensively in the second half,” Kristaps Porzingis told reporters.

They knew what they were supposed to do, but they couldn’t do it. That doesn’t mean OKC would necessarily win if these teams meet in the NBA Finals. I’d still probably take the Celtics in six. But it does show that it’s anyone’s game if they match up in June.

The Thunder have the best player on the floor (sorry, Jayson), insane length, elite on-ball defenders and shooting all over. Sound familiar? The reason this matchup is so enticing is because these teams mirror each other in many ways. You can tell the Thunder front office folks and coach Mark Daigneault have New England roots. It’s a gritty, resilient, fearless team on the rise.

When the Thunder trailed at halftime, there was no panic whatsoever. I guess that’s what happens when you win 15 straight. A team often mirrors its best player, and that’s what’s unfolding here. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is never in a hurry. He plays with remarkable poise and doesn’t get flustered. His Thunder teammates see that and replicate it. On this particular night, the Celtics couldn’t seize the moment, while Gilgeous-Alexander and Co. did.

“OKC is rolling right now,” Jaylen Brown told reporters. “We had an opportunity to kind of come on their home floor and get a W. Thought in the first half we executed well. Second half, just not good enough.”

While this was a tough setback for the Celtics short term, it’s not the end of the world big picture. It will only make them better.

So, as you digest this one, I encourage you to tip your cap to Oklahoma City. The Thunder are legit, and they’re going to be a problem for a long, long time. Having said that, the Celtics love a challenge.

They’ve met their match, and next time, I suspect they’ll finish the job when OKC makes its run. That’s what championship teams do.

“This kind of win is just going to give them more confidence,” Porzingis said. “So, it’s not good, but we will have another opportunity later in the season.”