The pace was where their cut-down, hustle-oriented lineup needed it, at a low offensive ebb on both ends of the floor.
And with Kyrie Irving, Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown watching from the end of the bench in street clothes, none anywhere close to a return, the Celtics stayed even with Oklahoma City in the only way possible— by pressuring every shot and winning the rebound battle.
The result was a 100-99 win over a hot Oklahoma City team with high seed aspirations out west. Marcus Morris who went into a victory dance afterward, hit a deep 3-pointer with 1.