Marvelous Morris silences Thunder from downtown

BOSTON - The Celtics have spent most of the past month shorthanded, with several of their key players sidelined by injuries.

It didn't stop them from finding a way to stun one of the league's hottest teams on Tuesday night.

Marcus Morris made a 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left as Boston shocked the Oklahoma City Thunder 100-99.

"Probably my biggest shot," Morris said. "I've hit a couple to tie it up, but that was my first shot to actually win it."

Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 23 points and 11 rebounds and Morris added 21 points as Boston snapped OKC's six-game win streak.

Russell Westbrook finished with 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for Oklahoma City, which led by six with 20 seconds left.

Boston took an 82-81 lead in the fourth quarter on a 3-pointer by Shane Larkin, who finished with 17 points off the bench.

The Thunder missed 15 of their first 21 3-point attempts before draining four straight to go back in front 93-89.

Boston closed to 99-97 on a 3 by Terry Rozier, and quickly fouled Carmelo Anthony with 7.7 seconds remaining. Anthony missed both attempts and the Celtics gathered the rebound.

Out of the timeout, Tatum dribbled across the lane and found Morris on the wing for the go-ahead 3.

"It was a tough shot," Paul George said. "We live with him taking that shot. He made it. Kudos to him for making big shots."

Westbrook was able to get off a long 3-pointer on the Thunder's final possession, but it came up short at the buzzer.

"We hit a couple of big shots there and kind of opened up the gap a little," Anthony said. "I missed those two free throws that could have easily sealed the game."

Tatum acknowledged the game-winning play was actually the result of a busted play in which he missed an assignment.

But he was willing to take at least some credit. When Tatum walked past Morris as he was being interviewed by reporters, he shouted: "It was a really ideal pass! But great shot, too!"

With Kyrie Irving sitting out for the fourth straight game nursing a sore left knee and Jaylen Brown still in the concussion protocol, Tatum and Rozier continued to pick up the slack.

Both were active throughout. Rozier had probably the most electrifying stretch late in the second quarter when he scored eight straight points to give the Celtics their largest lead of the first half at 41-36.

The series included Rozier picking up an errant pass by Westbrook and then gliding in for a one-handed dunk over Steven Adams on the ensuing fast break.

Rozier finished with 14 points, six rebounds and six assists.

Westbrook scored 12 points in the third quarter to give Oklahoma City a 75-65 cushion. But Boston closed the period with eight straight points, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer by Larkin.

Celtics coach Brad Stevens said Tatum's role will only increase with guys still out.

"We're going to just keep throwing him to the wolves and keep going to him in those moments," Stevens said.

Associated Press