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One would think that the Oklahoma City Thunder, without starters Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, would be at a distinct disadvantage as they played the Boston Celtics at TD Garden Friday night.

With would be being the operative phrase here.

And it didn’t look like they would have a chance as the Celtics outshot the Thunder 48.5%-43.1%. But that’s where the comparisons end. The Thunder were benefactors of poor free shooting by the Celtics (17-of-27) and one key player on their team – Russell Westbrook.

Westbrook’s six free throws in the fourth quarter allowed Oklahoma City to hold off Boston 89-84.

The Thunder were without Durant and Green for this one as both were nursing ankle injuries and would be replaced by Serge Ibaka and Thabo Sefolosha. It was Durant’s first missed game since he sat out seven straight back in March 2009.

Neither team shot very well in the first half as the Thunder outscored the Celtics 25-23 in the first quarter and 24-23 in the second, taking a slim 49-46 edge into their locker room.

Oklahoma City took a 77-67 lead near the end of the third period when Westbrook lost control of the ball and it rolled over to Royal Ivey, who made a desperation 3-pointer as the shot clock expired; Delonte West would score to make it 77-69 going into the final 12 minutes.

It was a 9-point Thunder lead when the Celtics reduced their deficit to 83-79 on five free throws. It was still a four-point Oklahoma City lead when the Celtics’ Glen Davis missed both free throws; he would again visit the charity stripe and make just one-of-two. West made a pair of free throws which made it a one-point Thunder lead with just 1:16 left in the game.

But Ray Allen missed a 3-point shot that would have given Boston their first lead of the second half. After a pair of Westbrook free throws, West would miss a 3-pointer, icing the game for Oklahoma City.

Westbrook led all Thunder scorers with 31 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals, but also turning the ball over 7 times while Ibaka added 13 with 7 rebounds,  and a steal. James Harden, in a rare start, chipped in 12 with 6 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal.

The Celtics were led by Kevin Garnett with 16 points, 2 rebounds, a steal and a block while Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce added 14 apiece – with Rondo grabbing 4 rebounds, dishing out 7 assists along with a steal while Pierce snared 6 boards, dished out 3 assists along with a block.

Oklahoma City (8-4) looks to extend their winning streak to four when they travel to Milwaukee to take on the Bucks Saturday night while Boston (9-3) travels to the Great White North to face the Toronto Raptors Sunday afternoon.