The Oklahoma City Thunder's impressive 12-game win streak came to an end on Wednesday night, falling to the Boston Celtics with a final score of 119-109. This matchup highlighted some areas of concern for the Thunder, as Boston capitalized on several key weaknesses.
One of the glaring issues was Oklahoma City's difficulty in defending the perimeter. The Celtics took full advantage of open looks from beyond the arc, hitting 43.9 percent of their three-point attempts. This wasn't just an off-night for the Thunder; it's been a persistent problem throughout the 2025-26 season.
Despite boasting the league's top defensive rating at 106.2 and holding opponents to just 107.6 points per game, the Thunder struggle to limit three-point opportunities. They've allowed the sixth-most three-point attempts this season and are giving up the second-most open looks from deep, with opponents making these shots at impressive rates.
While Oklahoma City's strong interior defense and potent offense have often masked these perimeter issues, the Celtics exposed what can happen when a team exploits these weaknesses. With Western Conference rivals like the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, and Minnesota Timberwolves excelling in long-range shooting, the Thunder could face challenges in the playoffs if they don't shore up this aspect of their defense.
The Thunder's ability to adapt and address this vulnerability will be crucial as they aim to defend their title. If they can tighten up their perimeter defense, they’ll be in a strong position to make another deep postseason run.