BOSTON — From the playoff-like, detail-oriented workforce walkthrough on Saturday to Paul George insisting he play by way of a sore groin harm on the second night time of a back-to-back, Ty Lue noticed a really motivated LA Clippers squad hours earlier than going through the Boston Celtics.
In what Lue described as a “measuring stick” sport, the Clippers led by as a lot as 36 factors and trounced the Celtics, 115-96, at a disillusioned TD Backyard on Saturday night time.
The Clippers (30-14) are the most well liked workforce in basketball, enhancing to a league-best 22-4 since Dec. 1. A kind of losses was an embarrassing 145-108 loss at dwelling to the Celtics on Dec. 23. Whereas that defeat got here with out an injured Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers have been in search of payback.
Of their most spectacular assertion win of the season, the Clippers handed Boston its second loss at dwelling this season.
“The blokes have been fairly motivated,” Lue mentioned. “… Once they got here to L.A., they did us fairly dangerous. So guys have been locked in.
“… This was a sport [where] PG, we thought he is likely to be out, however he wished to play to see the place we’re at. Only a measuring stick in opposition to a terrific workforce. We simply wished to form of see the place we’re at. We had that on our thoughts.”
Though the Celtics (35-11) have misplaced solely twice at dwelling this season, each have come consecutively. The Celtics misplaced to Denver on Jan. 19, and this newest dwelling setback got here with out the injured Kristaps Porzingis.
The Clippers held the Celtics to 36% taking pictures and blew the sport open with a 21-0 run within the third quarter.
James Harden mentioned it was the Clippers’ finest defensive efficiency of the season.
“In opposition to a workforce that was enjoying actually, very well,” Harden mentioned. “Particularly at dwelling. … We nonetheless bought some methods to go, however it is a good take a look at for us.”
Sometimes, this is likely to be the kind of sport that the Clippers would battle with previously. It was the second night time of a back-to-back after they gained in Toronto on Friday night time. They’re in the beginning of a grueling journey that can see them play seven video games in 11 nights.
George performed in that Toronto victory whereas nursing a groin situation. It could have been straightforward for the Clippers to carry their star out to be secure, particularly in opposition to a Boston workforce that went into the night time with the second-best report since Dec. 1 at 21-6.
However the Clippers entered this season saying they wanted to take the common season extra critically. Their stars have averted prolonged accidents, and the Clippers have been discovering methods to win video games even after they aren’t enjoying their finest. Since a 3-7 begin, the Clippers are 27-7.
On Saturday, George, Harden and Russell Westbrook mixed to shoot 9-for-31. George scored 17 factors, however Harden had solely 9 factors and Westbrook scored simply 4.
However defensively, the Clippers challenged photographs, holding Boston to 22-of-75 taking pictures within the first three quarters. The Celtics bought 21 factors from Jayson Tatum, however Jaylen Brown and Jrue Vacation mixed to shoot 5-for-24 and rating a complete of 15 factors.
Leonard, who made 10-of-15 photographs and completed with 26 factors, agreed with Harden that the Clippers’ performed excellent protection. However the two-time Finals MVP is concentrated on taking the Clippers to a first-ever NBA Finals look.
“I am completely satisfied that we have been capable of are available in and provides the Celtics a loss,” Leonard mentioned. “But it surely actually does not imply nothing till you get to the playoffs and also you’re doing the issues we did tonight — executing, making photographs, enjoying good protection.
“It is good that we had carryover from final night time coming from Toronto and successful these back-to-back video games. However you bought to simply hold getting higher because the yr goes on.”
