Celtics
The Celtics completed 25-for-53 from past the arc.
The Celtics annihilated the Clippers, pulling away within the second half of Saturday’s afternoon recreation in Los Angeles for a 145-108 victory.
Listed here are the takeaways.
1. The NBA’s schedule makers may need set the Clippers as much as fail with Saturday’s recreation, because the Clippers performed a highway back-to-back towards the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Wednesday and Thursday, adopted by a break day however a recreation towards the league-leading Celtics at 12:30 p.m. native time on Saturday. The Clippers had been additionally with out Kawhi Leonard, who fell awkwardly on his hip towards the Mavericks and missed the final two contests.
Then again, you’ll pardon the Celtics in the event that they don’t cry a lot for the Clippers contemplating their schedule. Positive, they had been well-rested on Saturday after two days off in California following their dominant win over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, however previous to that, they rattled off 5 wins in a row at residence together with a back-to-back towards the Cavaliers and Magic, adopted by a day recreation lower than 48 hours later towards the Magic as soon as once more.
That stretch didn’t embody as a lot journey because the Clippers endured, however the Celtics nonetheless impressed beneath equally attempting circumstances, and on Saturday, they impressed towards a staff with a re-invigorated James Harden, in addition to Paul George and loads of different expertise.
2. After injuring his ankle towards the Warriors early within the first quarter by stepping on Brandin Podziemski’s foot, Jayson Tatum had a scary second within the first half of Saturday’s recreation when Clippers ahead Kobe Brown closed out too near the Celtics star and undercut his touchdown. Tatum twisted the identical ankle he harm towards the Warriors and wanted a couple of minutes earlier than he stood again up.
Brown was whistled for a flagrant foul, penalty one.
Tatum was off to an enormous begin: He completed the primary half with 21 factors on 5-for-8 capturing from 3-point vary, and he transformed the four-point play. He returned for the second half, and whereas his efficiency was barely extra muted (9 factors, 2-for-5 capturing, 0-for-2 from three), he drew six free throws on two extra 3-point makes an attempt, one in all which was a flagrant as nicely (the Clippers, it appears, may actually use Derrick White’s recommendation on learn how to shut out).
The NBA will probably be hoping Tatum’s ankle heals shortly: The Celtics are a part of the league’s marquee Christmas Day matchup after they tackle the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James, and Tatum — who completed with a game-high 30 factors on Saturday — is among the new faces of the league. The Celtics, nevertheless, is perhaps sensible to do what they’ll to persuade Tatum to take a seat. They confirmed how good they are often towards a playoff opponent with out him after they beat the Kings on Wednesday, and it is a roster constructed for Could/June, not late December.
3. Derrick White stayed within the recreation longer than the remainder of the Celtics’ starters and was rewarded with 10 fourth-quarter factors when the sport was already determined, pushing his counting stats to 18 factors, three rebounds, three assists, and three blocks. One can’t however surprise if White was left within the recreation partly to proceed piling up stats and construct an All-Star case.
Whether or not or not White makes an All-Star staff — for the document, our stance is that he’s deserving, however the All-Star numbers crunch at guard would possibly make Kristaps Porzingis extra more likely to be the Celtics’ third consultant — he continues to make a robust case for First Workforce All-Protection. For the fourth consecutive recreation, White blocked three photographs, making him the primary Celtics participant since Robert Williams in 2021 to attain that stat, and he’s simply the second guard in NBA historical past to tug it off.
4. The Celtics generated, hoisted, and made a ton of 3-pointers. They completed 25-for-53, a wholesome 47.5 p.c, and their new excessive for the season in makes.
The Clippers, in the meantime, made 11-of-34 from deep (32.4 p.c). In different phrases, the Celtics outscored them by 42 from behind the arc. That sort of margin will inevitably be a blowout.
5. Jaylen Brown performed a wonderful offensive recreation as soon as once more, ending with 24 environment friendly factors on 9-for-17 capturing. He attacked the Clippers with a few good turnaround jumpers, in addition to 3-for-6 capturing from deep and a pleasant pick-and-roll end the place he snaked the display, bought James Harden on his hip, and tossed in a snug floater.
Brown continues to raise his recreation this season, enjoying beneath management and throughout the circulation of the offense. He seems to have taken an unlimited step as a mature no-questions-asked star.
6. The Neemias Queta subplot has a couple of too many chapters to be an accident at this level. On Saturday, he recorded one other double-double with 14 factors and 11 rebounds, in addition to three assists. Queta pads his rebounding numbers a bit by grabbing his personal misses, however Celtics followers ought to forgive that because the premium paid for his hustle.
Luke Kornet has executed completely nothing to lose his spot within the rotation apart from get injured, and he nonetheless is the favourite to stay within the rotation when he returns from his adductor pressure, however it appears very probably Queta — who’s on a two-way deal — will find yourself with a assured roster spot earlier than the postseason rolls round.
7. Bolstered by Queta’s refusal to let any of his missed layups go quietly into that good night time, the Celtics outscored the Clippers 23-8 on second-chance factors, grabbing 15 offensive rebounds to the Clippers’ 9.
8. Oshae Brissett shot 3-for-4 from 3-point vary, which — for the Celtics — was a pleasant reminder that there are a number of competent gamers at the moment waving a towel enthusiastically on the sideline. Brissett’s capturing additionally — for the Clippers — should have felt like an absolute kick within the tooth, given the harm being executed in all places else.
9. The Celtics’ latest two-way participant Drew Peterson scored his first NBA basket and recorded his first NBA help on back-to-back possessions late within the fourth quarter. Peterson drilled a 3-pointer with 1:12 remaining, then shoveled a pleasant cross to Lamar Stevens in transition for a two-handed slam with lower than a minute remaining.
10. The Celtics can now get pleasure from Christmas Eve in Los Angeles earlier than they tackle the Lakers at 5 p.m. Japanese Time on Christmas Day. That recreation will probably be on ABC.