Kristaps Porzingis on why OKC Thunder’s upsurge is no fluke: "They're at the top of the West"
Though the Boston Celtics have been tested several times in the 2023-24 season, no team has sprinkled their dominance like OKC Thunder did on Tuesday night, securing a commanding 127-123 win. While the Celtics saw their six-game winning streak get snapped, Kristaps Porzingis wasted no time acknowledging the young Thunder team’s potential, recognizing how they’ve beaten 3 of the top 6 teams in their past five games.
"That's a talented young team, and I don't believe this was some fluke game for them," Porzingis said, as per ESPN. "They've been playing really well. They're at the top of the West, no? So, a really good team to go up against and a really good experience for us."
Al Horford echoed Porzingis’ sentiment
Another standout player for the Celtics who joined the chorus of praise for the OKC Thunder was Al Horford, emphasizing their rapid improvement despite having the second-youngest roster in the NBA this season.
Before the game, Horford acknowledged the Thunder as ‘one of the better teams in the league’ and commended Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. In particular, he highlighted Shai’s impressive growth in emerging as one of the frontrunners for the 2024 MVP honor.
"I feel like when I was here, he was starting to come into his own," Horford said. "We all felt and knew that he had that capability, but it's been pretty amazing just to see how he continues to get better and how the team in general, has continued to buy into the way that they're trying to play."
As the hype surrounding Shai grows to surreal levels, the Kentucky standout lived up to expectations in the game against the Celtics, scoring a game-high 36 points on 14-of-22 shooting from the field. This solidifies why he’s the league's third-leading scorer with an average of 31.4 points per game and just how OKC is inches away from being the best team in the Western Conference.
OKC Thunder are legitimate title contenders
Boasting an impressive 23-9 record, the Thunder have showcased their prowess with a commanding 23-point victory at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves and a dominant 26-point win on the road against the Denver Nuggets. Their current ranking adds to their credibility, sitting fourth in defensive rating (110.7) and fifth in offensive rating (119.3).
The Thunder’s success goes beyond SGA; Chet Holmgren is making a significant game-winning impact. The former No. 2 pick averages 17.6 points per game with shooting percentages of 54.3% from the field, 40.7% from 3-point range, and an 83.2% success rate from the free-throw line. This feat was never previously witnessed by a rookie in NBA history.
Moreover, his defensive prowess has been even better, tying for the third position in blocks per game this season.
