Thunder vs. Celtics: OKC Improves Upon NBA's Best Record, Beats Boston 97-88

The Oklahoma City Thunder came in as slight favorites over a struggling Boston Celtics team, but the Thunder proved they can earn a so-called "impressive" victory on the road as they hung on 97-88.

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook proved they are arguably the best duo in the NBA (save LeBron James and Dwyane Wade), as they once again twinkled the twine.

Together, the dynamic duo notched 54 points on 18-of-28 shots and they also hit 13-of-14 from the charity stripe.

Even from downtown the two were unconscious, going a combined 5-of-11. It was Durant's game-high 28 points that impressed most since he put the ball on the deck a few times and made the Celtics defense look really bad.

Sure, Boston (4-8) has some issues, but they are still a team that will likely be a mid-tier seed come playoff time in April (third favorites by the "experts").

Rajon Rondo had a solid game at the point for the Celtics, totaling 12 points, nine assists and nine rebounds. Paul Pierce had a typical, consistent night, going for 24 points, but he could not come away with enough stops against Durant.

Durant and Westbrook went off, and thank goodness, because James Harden struggled going 2-for-8 (five points).

Despite Oklahoma City having the best record in the NBA at 12-2, the experts (TNT crew) are still going with the Los Angeles Lakers in the long haul.

LA has some extra beef with Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol, but could the Lakers handle Durant, Westbrook and Harden?

Oklahoma City has three upcoming meetings with the Lakers, albeit two of them are on the road (Mar. 29, Apr. 22). However, they get to prove the naysayers wrong on Feb. 23 when they get to play in another nationally televised prime-time TNT matchup.

By that contest we'll know just how far Scott Brooks' squad has come.

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