The Celtics have twice lost five games in a row this season, both punctuated by losses to Oklahoma City.
The Thunder swept the season series for the first time in six years, having lost to Boston in their home building all three times since moving from Seattle.
Oklahoma City missed nine of its first 10 shots and quickly fell behind 15-5, then could hardly miss for the rest of the first half, going 18 for 23 during the most impressive stretch.
Harden's driving layup completed the one-sided spurt and made it 42-25 in the first 2 minutes of the second quarter. The lead grew to 72-49 by halftime after Boston's worst defensive half of the season.
"We were moving the ball, we were running the court, we were playing with a good pace and taking care of the basketball. It was beautiful basketball in the first half," Brooks said.
"We just got a little sloppy with our turnovers and our ball-handling and our decisions in the second half."
Notes: Rivers got a kick out of Rondo being picked as an All-Star while serving a suspension. "Now we know the league does not hold grudges. ... It's Rondo's (26th) birthday today, so I was joking. I said, 'In one gift, you got the All-Star. In the other gift, you gave $250 grand back to the league, so that's a heck of a birthday present,'" Rivers said. Durant will replace Johnson in the 3-point contest, competing for the first time. Durant previously won the H-O-R-S-E competition twice before it was discontinued. ... The Celtics' previous season worst for points allowed was 69, in the first half of a 115-107 loss at Miami in the second game of the season. ... It was Perkins' 11th technical of the season. Two more would earn him a one-game suspension. Durant also picked up his first technical foul of the season in the second quarter after getting blocked by Garnett.
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