For the first time since mid-November, the Clippers manage to string together two consecutive victories. They did it last night being deprived of their best player, Paul George (elbow). But we had to fight to the end against the Celtics, who played them without Jaylen Brown, defeated the day before on the same floor, against the Lakers.
After narrowly dominating the first quarter (24-28), the Celtics took a big leap in the second, conceding 39 points. Late when returning to the locker room (51-63), after an improbable “buzzer beater” from Brandon Boston Jr. (in “turnaround” at 3-points), the visitors will experience a bad start to the second period.
To the point of ending up with 21 points behind (76-55). With a well-functioning Ivica Zubac – Reggie Jackson connection and a still confident Brandon Boston Jr., the Clippers, who were recording the return of Nicolas Batum, seemed in total control at this point in the game. But with a big attack from Jayson Tatum, coupled with the defensive energy of Marcus Smart, the Celtics found a way to get closer to the score at the end of the third quarter (87-78).
This difference of around ten points was maintained until the approach of “money time”. But surfing on a better dynamic, and taking advantage of an efficient off-road pressing, the visitors came back to some possessions, with a good streak from Dennis Schroder. Jayson Tatum then took it upon himself to bring his team down to just one point but the Clippers resisted until the end.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Celtics’ all-terrain pressing. This defensive strategy did a lot of harm to the Clippers in the second half and participated in the “comeback” of the Greens. More than once, Reggie Jackson and his family have struggled to pass that first defensive curtain, with a Marcus Smart still solid in his role as watchdog. The visitors thus caused 20 lost balloons. The concern is that they themselves lost 22 … On the very last possession, the Clippers were able to break this pressing. The Celtics, playing too much interception, lost precious seconds.
– The Celtics’ reaction. With 21 points behind, the fatigue of a “back-to-back” after a heavy defeat the day before against the Lakers, the Celtics could have packed up quickly. But they did not give up in the third quarter, sticking an impressive 20-4 to give themselves a chance to win in the final period.
– Paul George’s absence compensated. The winger has only missed one game this season that resulted in a loss for the Clippers. Last night, no less than six players scored 10 or more points to make up for the superstar’s absence. Good news for Tyronn Lue.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Brandon Boston Jr. It has never worn its name so well! Increasingly used by Tyronn Lue in recent days, the rookie exploded that night. A 3-point shot in first intention, a dribble in the back on the counter-attack to finish, a “buzzer-beater” at the end of the first period … The rear showed a success and especially an impressive confidence to register 27 points !
✅ Marcus Smart. 3-point waste and lost balls but the back of the Celtics still behaved like a bulldog in defense. He finished best interceptor of the game (4), tied with… Brandon Boston Jr.
⛔ Reggie Jackson. Another complicated evening at the shoot for the leader of the Clippers, who does not want to pass the 40% success mark over the entire season. He sent a number of bricks again (6/22) and struggled against Marcus Smart’s pressing, committing 6 lost balls.
« LET’S GO CELTICS ! »
Lots of green jerseys in the aisles of the Staples Center. We heard a lot from these “outside” fans during the Celtics’ highlights, especially at the end of the third quarter. Ten seconds to go, for example, we heard almost as much from Celtics fans reacting to Reggie Jackson’s missed first free throw, as from Clippers on his second converted attempt.
THE FOLLOWING
Clippers (14-12) : reception of the Magic, Saturday.
Celtics (13-13) : end of their “road trip” to the West, Friday, in Phoenix.
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