Josh Giddey leads OKC to biggest score since moving to Oklahoma

Josh Giddey isn’t new to setting NBA records but this time he helped his team set a best-ever score.

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - JANUARY 3: Josh Giddey #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket during the game against the Boston Celtics on January 3, 2023 at Paycom Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)

Aussie young gun Josh Giddey hit his own season-high as the Oklahoma City Thunder set a new scoring record in a 150-115 flogging of the NBA-leading Boston Celtics.

In the absence of regular go-to man Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who missed the match through illness, Giddey stepped up scoring 25 points, his best effort this season, in the huge home victory.

Giddey’s effort included 17 third-quarter points as OKC racked up its largest total since moving to Oklahoma City from Seattle before the 2008-09 season.

“It felt contagious from the jump, we shot the lights out of it,” the 20-year-old said.

“We flowed, moved the ball well, got good looks and made a lot of them.

Josh Giddey #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket during the game against the Boston Celtics (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)

“If we continue to play like that ... obviously we‘re not always going to shoot like that, but the principles of getting those looks and defend the way we did, will help us.”

Giddey’s season-best effort was also a team-high with Lu Dort scoring 23 points and Jalen Williams, Tre Mann and Isaiah Joe each added 21 points for the Thunder.

The Celtics gave up massive 88 points across the second and third quarters as the Thunder, who remain 12th in the western conference and still three wins outside the finals zone, won by more than 16 for the first time this season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a career-high 55 points in a return from a one-game absence and Milwaukee defended home court against Washington 123-113, snapping the Wizards‘ five-game winning streak.

Originally published as Josh Giddey leads OKC to biggest score since moving to Oklahoma