Jaylen Brown (right) draws a foul from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (left) in a battle of MVP candidates Wednesday.
Jaylen Brown (right) draws a foul from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (left) in a battle of MVP candidates Wednesday.Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
The psychological battle was won Wednesday when the Celtics took their first lead of the second half on a Baylor Scheierman corner 3-pointer. Before then, the Celtics only proved good enough to compete with the defending champion Thunder.
Then, they had the hefty responsibility of holding a lead against the NBA’s No. 1 team that was fully healthy and supremely poised. Not only did the Celtics keep the lead, they built on that advantage, finally overcoming an elite team after struggling in that regard and beating the Thunder for the first time in nearly two years.
The 119-109 win gives the Celtics the confidence of playing a full 48 minutes against another well-coached team loaded with stars and players who flourish in their roles. The Thunder have developed into a machine with reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draining mid-range jumpers and drawing fouls while his teammates knock down threes, bully on the boards, and defend with physicality.
The Celtics finally responded to that physicality, despite falling behind by 13 points in the first quarter and looking completely unprepared for the challenge early. The most encouraging aspect of this monumental regular-season win is that Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown played their best game together since Tatum’s return.
Tatum looked as comfortable as he has since his comeback, scoring 19 points along with 12 rebounds and seven assists. In one second-quarter sequence, Tatum led the break, put a shoulder into Jalen Williams and then stepped back for a 3-pointer in his one natural motion: swish.
Brown perhaps got the best of Gilgeous-Alexander in this matchup of MVP candidates, scoring 31 points on 9-for-17 shooting and reaching the free throw line 14 times. In the fourth quarter, Brown drove on Gilgeous-Alexander, nudged him back and then pump-faked, getting his defender in the air before delivering a short jumper: basket and foul.
Two weeks ago in Oklahoma City, Brown said he was frustrated by the amount of foul-baiting in the NBA, with Gilgeous-Alexander being the center figure of his ire. This time he pulled a Shai on Shai, using the custom head fake to draw contact. Brown couldn’t help but smile after the foul call.
MVP type s-🤬 pic.twitter.com/FGdmAsmaBW
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 26, 2026
It was poetic justice for Brown, he got a rare call against his MVP rival and it completed a 7-0 run to give the Celtics control. This win was critical because Boston was tired of moral victories. It fought the Thunder to the final seconds in Oklahoma City without Tatum and Derrick White, but it was a loss.
The Celtics played the Spurs tough in San Antonio without the ejected Brown, but they still took an L. That’s not good enough. They were 0-2 against the Nuggets, 0-2 against the Timberwolves, 1-3 against the Pistons, 1-2 against the Knicks.
The Thunder had beaten opponents by an average of 10.9 points during their 13-game winning streak. And when the games were close, they won those too, a 2-point win over the Celtics, 3-point victories over the Nuggets and Knicks, a 5-point win at Orlando to begin this trip. The Thunder are so savvy in close games, and so efficient the Celtics needed to be their best.
“I like the fact that we brought the physicality,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “I like the fact that we brought our offensive organization. I like the fact that we executed. I like the fact that we took it to a different level of defensively. So now it’s okay. What do we get better? We apply it to Friday’s game (against Atlanta).”
When asked whether this was their best performance of the season, Mazzulla hesitated. He doesn’t like to focus on particular games. It means nothing if the Celtics get thumped Friday against the streaking Hawks. But to respond from Sunday’s drubbing by the Timberwolves — a game where they were pushed around offensively and looked frazzled — has to be the best victory of the season.
They are clinging to the No. 2 seed by a half game, and they needed a confidence boost.
“I’m sure there’s been a bunch of other (good games),” Mazzulla said. “But I do think we took it to a different level, and that’s something that we have to maintain.”
That’s as close as Mazzulla will get to a compliment after a quality win.
Brown may not win MVP but he’ll get a handful of top-five votes. On this grand stage against Gilgeous-Alexander, he not only responded with a big scoring night, but also added 8 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals. The most important stat was the team’s 48th victory in a season where 50 wins appeared to be inconceivable to everyone besides those in the Celtics locker room.
And Wednesday’s victory is a morale booster for a group that has played well but fallen short previously against the elite.
“I mean, that was a well-needed win,” Brown said. “I really wanted that win. That was well needed. We know we can play with anybody, but you get a win on your own floor against the team has the best record in the league. Feels good, especially after dropping the game (Sunday), I felt like we should have won against Minnesota. So very encouraging. It’s a step to build in the right direction.”
Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.