Jaylen Brown sparked the comeback with 31 points, including 14 in the pivotal third quarter, powering the Boston Celtics to a 119-109 comeback win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. The triumph halted the defending champs’ 12-game streak and leveled the season series between the NBA’s last two title winners.
The Thunder struck first at TD Garden, building an early advantage behind sharp shooting from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort. Oklahoma City jumped to a 14-7 lead, capitalizing on Boston’s sluggish start and defensive lapses that allowed perimeter threes. The Celtics trailed for much of the first half, struggling with efficiency despite contributions from bench players like Baylor Scheierman and Hugo Gonzalez, who provided timely energy.
Brown shifted the momentum in the third quarter, where his scoring outburst helped Boston seize control. He finished with eight rebounds and eight assists alongside his points, fueling a surge that sent the Celtics into the fourth quarter up 88-83. Boston’s lead stretched to 14 points late, though Oklahoma City clawed back to within 115-109 with 1:30 left. Brown sealed the outcome with a layup, and Derrick White added two free throws to ice the game.
Jayson Tatum bounced back from recent uneven outings, posting 19 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. For the Thunder, Gilgeous-Alexander topped all scorers with 33 points and eight assists, while Dort chipped in 14. Jalen Williams managed seven points in limited action after returning from a 16-game hamstring injury absence. Boston dominated second-chance opportunities 19-2 and held Oklahoma City to 12-of-37 shooting from beyond the arc.
This result avenges Boston’s narrow 104-102 loss to the Thunder earlier this month in Oklahoma City, where Brown and Gilgeous-Alexander traded big nights in a thriller. The win keeps the Celtics firmly in the Eastern Conference mix, underscoring their depth and resilience as title favorites. For Oklahoma City, the streak’s end serves as a reminder of the grind ahead, even as they maintain a strong position in the West. Both teams shift focus to upcoming tests in the tight playoff race.
He's a baaaaaaad man 😤 pic.twitter.com/BhSmVFtpJp
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 26, 2026
