Russell Westbrook: Nothing special about Marcus Smart’s career night for

But Marcus Smart was Sunday night.

The play of the point guards figures to be front and center when the Boston Celtics visit the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. Better yet was Smart’s defense – that’s his specialty, after all – which got plenty of help from Celtic teammates like Avery Bradley.

Russell Westbrook scored a game-high 27 points and Serge Ibaka had a double-double (16 points, 10 rebounds) for the Thunder.

“I do this”, Westbrook said, insisting Smart’s performance was nothing special. “Don’t get it twisted”.

Smart obviously has a long way to go before he’s on Westbrook’s level, and the Thunder guard’s supreme confidence is part of what makes him such a great player.

“That’s the type of guy that Russ is”, Smart said. “When we’re moving the ball and we’re not turning it over, we’ve got a very good offensive team”. Taking on the challenge of guarding Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, Smart was still able to shoot 9 of 14 from the field and haul in eight rebounds.

Smart scored nine first-quarter points to keep Boston in the game, then he produced the best stretch of basketball in his limited NBA career. They were beaten to loose balls and rebounds and were just out-hustled.

The Bucks held Cleveland scoreless for more than 5 minutes in the third quarter, scoring 10 consecutive points to take a 64-55 lead on Monroe’s 13-foot jumper with 5:35 left. He would have hit double digits if he hadn’t missed three free throws.

“He likes this gym”, said Boston coach Brad Stevens, referring to the 25-point game Smart produced last March in Chesapeake Arena. Kyle Singler had scored 18 points over his first eight games this season, but had eight Sunday…. Smart continued his rampage and seemed to score at will, but it was forward Jae Crowder’s energy and defense that allowed the Celtics to storm back and only trail by two heading into the fourth quarter. “To their credit, we’ve done a better job the last five games.”…

“Yeah, hamstring is a little bit different”.

“There are times where we’re getting the ball to really good areas of the floor and we have to recognize and identify the next pass to the next pass sometimes”, Donovan echoed.

GRIZZLIES 114, TIMBERWOLVES 106: Jeff Green scored a season-high 21 points, and Mike Conley matched his season-high with 20 to go with six assists and Memphis held on to beat host Minnesota.

Bucks: La Marsellaise, the national anthem of France, was played before the game in remembrance of those killed and injured in the Paris attacks.