In a dramatic reversal of their previous encounter, the Los Angeles Clippers dominated the Boston Celtics in a decisive victory. Kawhi Leonard led the charge with 26 points in 29 minutes, propelling the Clippers to a 115-96 win during Saturday’s NBA action.
Paul George contributed 17 points for Los Angeles, which executed a stunning 21-0 run in the third quarter. This impressive performance marked their fifth consecutive win and served as a powerful response to a 37-point defeat at the hands of the Celtics in Los Angeles back in December. The Clippers’ starters, including Leonard and George, rested throughout the fourth quarter, highlighting their comfortable lead.
This game was Boston’s most significant home defeat this season, particularly noteworthy given their exceptional 20-0 start at TD Garden. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue noted the motivation stemming from their previous loss to Boston, emphasizing the team’s focus and readiness for the challenge.
“Yeah, guys were pretty motivated,” Lue said. “They came to LA and beat us pretty bad. So guys were locked in. We understand it was a back-to-back. But guys were locked in. They were up for the challenge. It was a game we thought PG might be out, but he wanted to play and see where we’re at. Just a measuring stick against a great team.”
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Leonard saw this victory as a significant step for the Clippers, who began the day with the third-best record in the Western Conference. He stressed the importance of continual improvement and efficiency as the playoffs approach.
“I’m happy we were able to come in and give the Celtics a loss. But it really doesn’t mean nothing until you get to the playoffs, and you’re doing the things we did tonight – executing, making shots, and playing good defense,” Leonard said. “We’ve got to just keep getting better as the year goes on. So once that time comes we’re moving very efficiently.”
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 21 points, but Boston struggled with their shooting, hitting only 35% from the field and 25% from the 3-point range. This was a stark contrast to their high-scoring encounter in Los Angeles, where the Celtics had hit a season-high 25 three-pointers.
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Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla reflected on the game, suggesting that reality often lies between extremes of good and bad performances.
“You’re never as good as you think you are, you’re never as bad as you think you are,” Mazzulla said.
Despite playing back-to-back games, the Clippers showed no signs of fatigue, extending their 16-point halftime advantage to as much as 36 points in the third quarter and finishing with 64 points in the paint.
James Harden, contributing nine points, eight rebounds, and seven assists for the Clippers, spoke about their intent to match the intensity the Celtics previously showed in Los Angeles.
“(The Celtics) came out in LA and imposed their will on the game, so we just wanted to come out and do the same thing,” Harden said.
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The Clippers capitalized on the absence of the Celtics’ 7-footer Kristaps Porzingis, who was out with a sprained left ankle. His absence was felt as Los Angeles exploited Boston’s interior defense, speeding up their play and forcing them into jump shots.
The third quarter was particularly telling, with the Clippers’ 21-0 run silencing the home crowd and increasing their lead significantly. The quarter also saw a technical foul on Tatum and audible frustration from the Boston fans.
The game marked the second of the Clippers’ extensive seven-game road trip and the beginning of a lengthy seven-game homestand for the Celtics.
