Clash at Paycom Center: Oklahoma City Thunder to Host Boston Celtics

As the Oklahoma City Thunder prepare to host the Boston Celtics at the Paycom Center, fans are bracing for what promises to be a riveting encounter. The Thunder, despite their recent struggles, have shown glimpses of brilliance that could spell trouble for the visiting Celtics.

In their last game on January 1 against the Philadelphia 76ers, OKC fell short with a final score of 96-115. The team's performance was marred by inefficiencies on both ends of the floor. With a shooting percentage of just 38 percent from the field and an even more concerning 33 percent from beyond the arc, it's clear that offensive production is an area in need of immediate attention. Moreover, their defensive efforts allowed Philadelphia to shoot over 46 percent and dominate inside with a staggering 66 points in paint.

However, not all is grim for OKC. Just days prior on December 28 against San Antonio Spurs, they put up an impressive show with a commanding victory scoring 130 points while shooting over 53 percent from both field goals and three-point range. This kind of offensive firepower coupled with their ability to control rebounds and capitalize on turnovers gives them a fighting chance against any team in the league.

The Celtics will come into this game wary of OKC's potential after witnessing such performances. They will need to clamp down defensively and disrupt OKC's rhythm if they hope to come away with a win.

Looking ahead at this matchup, one can't help but feel that OKC has been underestimated due to their record (16 wins -21 losses). But as history has shown us time and again in sports – records can be deceiving. If Oklahoma City can channel their energy from previous high-scoring games and tighten up defensively – particularly in paint where they've been vulnerable – there’s every reason to believe they could upset Boston’s plans.

Fans should expect an intense battle where every possession counts; one that will test OKC’s resolve as much as it does Boston’s composure under pressure.

The showdown between these two teams is scheduled for January 4th at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City at local time (7:00 PM CST). Fans eager not to miss any action can tune into BSOK or NBCS-BOS depending on their location or follow along through various live streaming options available online.