Before the face the Orlando Magic on Sunday, the Boston Celtics will kick-off their weekend Friday at 7:30 pm ET when they host the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder.
The 6-6 Celtics have lost two straight games, most recently a 112-100 defeat at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. Prior to that, the Celtics were waxed on the road by the lowly Detroit Pistons, 103-83.
The Celtics, who pride themselves on playing some of the toughest defenses in the league, have been less than pleased with their performance. The Celtics currently rank 27th in the NBA in defensive field-goal percentage after leading the league in that department last season.
Now the Celtics will look to slow down OKC's Kevin Durant, who is second in the NBA with 25.4 points per game and put up a pair of 28-point efforts last season to help Oklahoma City (9-3) sweep Boston.
Durant scored a season-high 35 points Wednesday in the Thunders' 117-111 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
OKC's defense features an imposing frontcourt that includes former Celtics center Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka. Off the bench, newcomer Hasheem Thabeet may be contributing more soon.
Thabeet, a bust since being the No. 2 overall pick by Memphis in 2009, had 10 points and four boards Wednesday.
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