BOSTON — This was one the defending champions wanted. The Oklahoma City Thunder clamped the visiting Boston Celtics late in a January victory, and in its title defense Boston had not yet lost a season series to another contender.
Except OKC did it again Wednesday, leveraging an 8-0 run midway through the fourth quarter to create separation in what had been to that point a great game between two great teams. The Thunder won the prizefight 118-112 showing a level of maturity that belied their youth, the very mettle you need to win a championship.
But Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault did not want his team to get ahead of itself.