Thunder stretch NBA win streak to 13 as Celtics edge T-Wolves

Oklahoma City extended the NBA's longest win streak to 13 games with a home victory on Thursday, while the reigning champion Boston Celtics held on for a last-shot win at Minnesota.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 29 points and eight assists, helping Oklahoma City defeat the Los Angeles Clippers 116-98. The victory improved the Western Conference-leading Thunder to 28-5.

The win streak is the longest for the team since relocating from Seattle after the 2007-08 season.

"It's just being present, going day by day, working on ourselves, and I think we're doing a good job of that," said Isaiah Hartenstein, who contributed 11 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.

Oklahoma City trailed 52-48 at halftime but outscored the Clippers 42-20 in the third quarter, and Los Angeles never recovered.

"We wanted to come out and just pick up the pressure," Hartenstein said. "We weren't playing the way we wanted, with the force we wanted. We wanted to pressure them, and I think we did a good job of that."

In Minneapolis, the Celtics, missing Jaylen Brown due to a right shoulder strain and Kristaps Porzingis with an ankle sprain, won 118-115, their third victory in four games to start a tough road trip.

Jayson Tatum led Boston with 33 points, including 6-of-17 from 3-point range, and added eight rebounds and nine assists.

"No JB. No KP. We've had a rough stretch these last eight or nine games," Tatum said. "So this January we're going to try to turn it around and get back to our identity."

"What better way than to come in on the road in a tough environment against a really good team down two of your best players and the way that we responded, figured out a way to win, we will take that any day."

The Celtics (25-9) forced 16 turnovers, while the Timberwolves (17-16) outscored Boston 20-4 at the free-throw line.

Minnesota led 35-28 after the first quarter, matching its top-scoring first quarter of the season. But Boston took a 62-51 halftime lead.

The Timberwolves fought back, tying the game 94-94 with 9:16 remaining on a 3-pointer by Donte DiVincenzo.

DiVincenzo sank three free throws with 28 seconds left to pull Minnesota within 118-115. The Timberwolves got the ball after a Tatum miss with 3.1 seconds remaining.

"Rule number one: If you leave it short, it never has a chance to go in," Tatum said.

Anthony Edwards missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer, securing Boston's win.

"Just had to stick with it," Tatum said of the Celtics' defense. "They were hitting some tough shots. You've got to live with something, can't take everything away. Stick to the game plan, compete."

Derrick White added 26 points for Boston, while Julius Randle led Minnesota with 27 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists.

The Celtics are on a four-game road swing against top teams, with upcoming stops at Houston, Oklahoma City, and Denver.

"I love the way we competed. Our physicality was on point. That's what it's going to take," Tatum said. "We play four really good, difficult teams on the road. We're going to need everybody in these games."

Nets edge Bucks

Tyrese Haliburton scored 33 points and added 15 rebounds to lead Indiana to a 128-115 victory at Miami. Myles Turner added 21 points, and Pascal Siakam contributed 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Pacers.

In Milwaukee, Brooklyn's Cameron Johnson scored 26 points, and Cam Thomas added 24 off the bench, helping the Nets edge the Bucks 113-110.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 27 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists for the Bucks, while Damian Lillard added 23 points. However, missed shots late in the game doomed Milwaukee's rally.

Lillard’s jumper pulled the Bucks within 111-110 with 37 seconds remaining, but after a Brooklyn turnover, Antetokounmpo missed a driving layup attempt. Ziaire Williams then sank two free throws to give the Nets a 113-110 lead with six seconds left.

Lillard missed a potential tying 3-pointer at the buzzer.