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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)— The most successful road trip in the history of the Boston Celtics has presented them with an opportunity to make their mark in the annals of the NBA.
The Celtics capped off their inaugural 6-0 road trip on Monday night with a 117-103 victory against Memphis. This triumph marked Boston’s eighth consecutive win on the road, elevating their away record to 32-7—just two victories shy of tying the Golden State Warriors for the highest single-season road record in NBA history.
The Warriors achieved a 34-7 record away from home during the 2015-16 season. Boston’s final two road games are scheduled for April 8 in New York and April 9 in Orlando.
After the game in Memphis, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla faced a straightforward inquiry: “What makes your team so effective on the road?”
Without hesitation, Mazzulla responded.
“I believe our players excel no matter where they play,” he remarked.
The Celtics now boast 23 road victories by double-digit margins, just one shy of matching the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers for the all-time record in that category. They have outscored their opponents by a total of 404 points away from home, which is only 26 points behind the record set by those same Lakers in 1971-72.
“It’s primarily about maintaining consistent performance,” Mazzulla explained. “Every year, different strengths can emerge, particularly when the team’s core remains the same. This year, it seems our strength has become our mentality on the road.”
It is also worth mentioning that the Oklahoma City Thunder remain in contention to equal Golden State’s record for the fewest road losses in a season. With a current record of 29-7 and four away games remaining, Oklahoma City is set to finish the season with 41 home games, 40 on the road, and one neutral-site matchup in Las Vegas—where they achieved victory against Houston in an NBA Cup semifinal.
Since the All-Star break, the Thunder have gone undefeated on the road, boasting an impressive 11-0 record as they pursue the best overall record in the NBA. According to BetMGM Sportsbook, they are deemed the favorites to clinch the NBA Finals. Meanwhile, despite trailing Cleveland in the Eastern Conference standings, the Celtics are the favored team by BetMGM to win the East and are considered second only to the Thunder for the championship.
With their victory against Memphis, the Celtics matched the franchise’s all-time record for road wins, tying with the 1972-73 squad (32-8) and the 1974-75 team (32-9).
“We’ve maintained a high level of focus,” said Celtics forward Al Horford. “Last year, we performed well, but particularly during the playoffs, I felt we excelled at controlling the pace on the road. What we’re doing right now is quite remarkable.”
