Thunder Crush Mavs 100-87

The Thunder's victory in Dallas was a showcase of their sustained excellence as defending champions, improving their Western Conference-leading record to 47-15. This win marked their third victory over the Mavericks this season, completing a season sweep. For Dallas, the loss extended their recent struggles, marking their eighth consecutive home defeat and their 13th loss in the last 15 games. The Mavericks were significantly shorthanded, playing without three regular starters, including star rookie Cooper Flagg, who missed his seventh straight game with a sprained left foot. Dallas was held to a season-low in points, which also ended a 41-game streak of scoring in triple digits. Caleb Martin led the Mavericks with a season-high 18 points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 30-point performance continued his remarkable season for Oklahoma City. It was his second game back after a nine-game absence due to an abdominal strain. This game also marked his 59th consecutive road game scoring at least 20 points, the longest such streak in NBA history. Chet Holmgren provided strong support with 19 points and nine rebounds. In Boston, Neemias Queta's career-high 27 points and 17 rebounds powered the Celtics to their 40th win of the season. His dominant performance also included three blocks, two assists, and a steal in 27 minutes of play. This outing significantly surpassed his season averages of 9.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Queta, the first Portuguese player in NBA history, has been a key contributor for the Celtics, especially in the wake of significant frontcourt changes during the offseason. His "monster effort" was a critical factor in the Celtics' victory, and he has now recorded three double-doubles in his last five games. The Celtics will look to him to continue this level of play as they head to Milwaukee for their next game.