As the Celtics gear up to face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night, there's a cloud of uncertainty surrounding Jayson Tatum's participation. Tatum, who has been steadily contributing since his return from injury, is listed as questionable due to “right Achilles repair reconditioning.” In his three appearances this season, Tatum has averaged a solid 19.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists, showing flashes of his usual brilliance.
The Celtics might also be without Derrick White, who is dealing with a right knee contusion. This injury likely occurred during the latter stages of their recent clash with the San Antonio Spurs, though the team has yet to confirm specifics.
Adding to their challenges, the Celtics continue to miss Nikola Vucevic, who is recovering from surgery on a fractured right index finger. With Vucevic sidelined for the foreseeable future, Luka Garza is expected to see more action on the court. Garza has been stepping up, averaging 6.7 points over 17.7 minutes in the last three games, after previously slipping out of the rotation.
Meanwhile, Payton Pritchard, who was absent from the Spurs game due to neck spasms, is likely to return to action.
Now, let’s take a look at how these two teams measure up. The Thunder have been a force to be reckoned with this season, boasting a league-best 51-15 record.
Their net rating of +10.8 underscores their dominance, with a top-ranked defensive rating of 106.2 and a formidable offensive rating of 117. Riding high on a six-game winning streak and having claimed victory in nine of their last ten games, the Thunder are setting the standard in the NBA.
Despite injuries to key players like Jalen Williams, Alex Caruso, and Isaiah Hartenstein, the Thunder have found ways to thrive. Jaylin Williams, for instance, delivered an outstanding performance against the Denver Nuggets, scoring 29 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Guards Ajay Mitchell and Jared McCain have also been instrumental off the bench, stepping up when needed.
At the heart of the Thunder's success is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is making a strong case for MVP honors with averages of 31.7 points and 6.6 assists per game, shooting an impressive 55.1% from the field and 38.3% from beyond the arc.
On the other side, the Celtics, following their defeat to the Spurs, hold a 43-22 record with the league's second-best net rating at +7.9. They boast the second-best offensive rating at 119.8 and a solid fifth-best defensive rating at 111.8.
These two teams have yet to meet this season, but they'll face off twice this month, with the next encounter set for March 25th at TD Garden. Last season, the Celtics struggled against the Thunder, going 0-2, so they'll be eager to turn the tide in this upcoming matchup.