Paycom Center was buzzing, the air thick with anticipation. After all, it was Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Boston Celtics—a clash of NBA titans guaranteed to bring the drama. The reigning champs seemed in control, strolling through the first half like it was their night. But basketball is never that simple. Cue Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his relentless squad. With a flick of the switch, OKC flipped the script, stunning Boston 105-92. The Celtics? Left dazed, scratching their heads, and wondering what just hit them. Joe Mazzulla and Jaylen Brown might want to grab a notepad for this one.

Something was terribly off about the C’s in the second half of the game. They were 10 points ahead of OKC at the end of the first half, but only 17-point turnovers in the last lap? Wait, what? Jaylen Brown and Co. weren’t executing their maps, there were spacing issues and the champs weren’t as intense as they usually are. Thus, in the post-game presser, JB spoke to the media to express his disappointment. Moreover, he blamed himself for the loss they faced on Sunday’s game night.

“I think our offensive execution and our spacing kind of let us down in the second half,” Brown admitted without hesitation. “Definitely a great game for us to look at. But they up their ball pressure, up their physicality you know. And they were a tougher team, set the rules.”

He added: “Their home court and we didn’t get to our spacing fast enough and allowed that to kind of have an effect on the game.”,  revealing how the environment—playing on the opponent’s home court—coupled with a lack of timely adjustments to spacing, amplified the team’s struggles. “In those moments, we got to be a little bit more poised,” he stressed, emphasizing the importance of maintaining composure and focus during pivotal stretches.

Finally, Brown took personal accountability for the team’s adjustments, stating, “I got to do a better job of getting into our space and seeing where the advantages are making the right plays.”

Just to let you know, the Boston Celtics had 27 points, 8-of-40 (20.0%) FG, 3-of-24 (12.5%) 3PT, and 10 turnovers in the second half of the game. The Thunder turned the tide with a fiery third quarter, slashing Boston’s lead to just four. But the real magic? That electric fourth quarter. Oklahoma City didn’t just outplay the Celtics; they blew them out of the water, outscoring the visitors 29-12 in the final stretch and 50-27 in the second half.

As the dust settled, both Jaylen Brown and Joe Mazzulla didn’t hold back. The issues? Crystal clear. Meanwhile, the frustration was impossible to miss. Although Boston walked in brimming with confidence, they ultimately walked out stunned. On the other hand, the Thunder stormed away with all the glory.

Joe Mazzulla shares Jaylen Brown’s disappointment as clear flaws screamed out loud on Sunday

Did the C’s imagine they’d help the Oklahoma City Thunder maintain their 15-game winning streak? Most importantly, did Joe Mazzulla think the game’s outcome would be so disappointing for his boys? Speaking with the media after the game, the Celtics HC shared his thoughts (more like frustration, if you will).

“I mean nobody imagined anything, you know. There was no imagining,” Jaylen Brown’s ringmaster bluntly commented. “The expectation was to play, you know, 48 minutes”. He then pointed to specific moments that shifted the game’s momentum: “I think you look at the first half that we’re able to put together. But at the same time, you have it to 13 and we give up two offensive rebounds at the end of the second quarter.”

He added, “Stuff like that keeps trams alive and then just every possession matters.”, acknowledging stresses the critical nature of minimizing errors, as seemingly minor mistakes can reinvigorate an opponent and shift the game’s trajectory.

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“Whether it’s offense or defense, just critical possessions that, you know, we have to be better on both sides of the ball. We got to just continue to work at that.” Brown said, underlining the need for improvement in both execution and decision-making during high-stakes moments.

There is no doubt that the team has to work on their setbacks. And as Mazzulla himself claimed, their loss was “a product of poor spacing and poor physicality on the ball. And poor screening.” The HC further said: “They’re [Thunder] good they’re a team that fights for matchups. Thought we did a great job of that in the first half. You know those 17 points off turnovers, I think we’re the difference-maker down a stretch.”

So, surely, this all-important matchup has been like an eye-opener for the defending NBA champions. Jaylen Brown, the 2024 Finals MVP, could barely spread his wings on Sunday as he chipped in 21 points in 40 minutes of gameplay. It was not a great night for the 18x league champs, but it was a night of learning for sure. What will Joe Mazzulla do to fill the gaps and return stronger on Tuesday’s matchup against the Nuggets?