If there were still skeptics regarding the level of the Clippers this season, there are undoubtedly fewer of them after this match in Boston. Certainly, the Celtics were deprived of Kristaps Porzingis, injured in the ankle against the Heat, but the result is nevertheless clear. Tyronn Lue's players didn't take long to get their hands on the match. The first minutes are marked by general awkwardness, before an 11-0 for the Clippers. Kawhi Leonard shines and Los Angeles takes the first quarter.
Even if James Harden is clumsy from afar, Los Angeles dominates the debates. The defense is in place and Joe Mazzulla's troops are struggling to find their way to the circle. The gap gradually increases to reach a fifteen point gap. When entering the locker room, there is no picture: Los Angeles is a notch above (39-55).
Jayson Tatum returns in the second half with better intentions. He scores several baskets to try to revive his teammates. Except that, behind, the Celtics remain silent for more than six minutes!
Obviously, Kawhi Leonard and his gang took advantage of this to take more than 30 points in advance before the last quarter (60-91). The two coaches understood and it was the substitutes who finished the match, won largely by the Clippers 96-115. They thus sign a fifth victory in a row.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Second home defeat for the Celtics. After a narrow defeat on January 19, after a superb match, against the Nuggets, the Celtics lost a second time in front of their home crowd. But this is not a setback at the finish against the reigning champions. They were dominated from start to finish by a big team, having no solution to the problem posed by the Californians. The crowd was turned off and the stars joined the bench at the end of the third quarter. A nightmare and a striking contrast as the Celts had just slapped Miami.
– The Clippers’ benchmark match? Third best team in the Western Conference, Los Angeles has obviously done great things since the start of the season. By beating Denver, Oklahoma City or Phoenix for example. But had Tyronn Lue's team had such a match before? Not sure. Serious, diligent, she crushed the best team in the league at home, as if to pay it back after the heavy defeat in California just before Christmas. It was a demonstration and, at the same time, a message sent to the entire league.
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
