Game ID: 22300646
LA Clippers @ Boston Celtics
Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 7:00 PM ET
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
BOS 21 18 21 36 96LAC 26 29 36 24 115
BOS vs LAC ScoutingBOS vs LAC Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
BOS availability going into 1/19 · 1 day's restBACK Queta back 1/11 after 3, 12 min since (111% of 11)
BOS availability going into 1/21 · 1 day's restBACK Queta back 1/11 after 3, 12 min since (111% of 11)
BOS availability going into 1/22 · back-to-backBACK Queta back 1/17 after 2, 8 min since (69% of 11)
BOS availability going into 1/25 · 2 days' restBACK Queta back 1/17 after 2, 8 min since (69% of 11)
BOS availability going into 1/27 · 1 day's restBACK Queta back 1/17 after 2, 7 min since (59% of 11)
NEW Kornet 15 to 20 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's rest
full strength
BOS availability going into 1/30 · back-to-backOUT Porziņģis missed 2 since 1/27, returns tonight: 31 min (108% of 29)
BOS availability going into 2/01 · 1 day's restOUT Kornet missed 2 since 1/29, out tonight
BACK Porziņģis back 1/30 after 2, 31 min since (108% of 29)
BOS availability going into 2/04 · 2 days' restOUT Kornet missed 3 since 1/29, returns tonight: 15 min (101% of 15)
BACK Porziņģis back 1/30 after 2, 30 min since (105% of 29)
LAC availability going into 1/16 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 23 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 5 since 1/07, out tonight
BACK Plumlee back 1/14 after 2, 16 min since (111% of 14)
LAC availability going into 1/21 · 4 days' restOUT Zubac missed 2 since 1/14, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 24 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 6 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 2 since 1/14, out tonight
BACK Plumlee back 1/14 after 2, 22 min since (155% of 14)
LAC availability going into 1/23 · 1 day's restOUT Zubac missed 3 since 1/14, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 25 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 7 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 3 since 1/14, out tonight
BACK Plumlee back 1/14 after 2, 20 min since (138% of 14)
LAC availability going into 1/26 · 2 days' restOUT Zubac missed 4 since 1/14, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 26 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 8 since 1/07, returns tonight: 2 min (12% of 14)
OUT Boston missed 4 since 1/14, returns tonight: 2 min (16% of 10)
BACK Plumlee back 1/14 after 2, 20 min since (138% of 14)
LAC availability going into 1/27 · back-to-backOUT Zubac missed 5 since 1/14, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 27 since 11/29, out tonight
BACK Plumlee back 1/14 after 2, 21 min since (145% of 14)
BACK Hyland back 1/26 after 8, 2 min since (12% of 14)
BACK Boston back 1/26 after 4, 2 min since (16% of 10)
LAC availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT Zubac missed 6 since 1/14, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 28 since 11/29, out tonight
BACK Hyland back 1/26 after 8, 6 min since (43% of 14)
BACK Boston back 1/26 after 4, 6 min since (59% of 10)
NEW Plumlee 14 to 22 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restOUT Zubac missed 7 since 1/14, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 29 since 11/29, out tonight
BACK Hyland back 1/26 after 8, 6 min since (43% of 14)
BACK Boston back 1/26 after 4, 4 min since (41% of 10)
NEW Plumlee 14 to 21 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 2/02 · 1 day's restOUT Zubac missed 8 since 1/14, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 30 since 11/29, out tonight
BACK Hyland back 1/26 after 8, 6 min since (42% of 14)
BACK Boston back 1/26 after 4, 10 min since (98% of 10)
NEW Plumlee 14 to 21 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 2/04 · 1 day's restOUT Zubac missed 9 since 1/14, returns tonight: 18 min (68% of 27)
OUT Tucker missed 31 since 11/29, out tonight
BACK Hyland back 1/26 after 8, 6 min since (42% of 14)
BACK Boston back 1/26 after 4, 8 min since (84% of 10)
NEW Plumlee 14 to 23 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 105, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Tatum at 26 and Porziņģis at 24 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 113, shooting 52 percent and 44 from three, 22 free throws a game; George at 21 and Leonard at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Zubac (5 straight), Tucker (27 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 105 a night to the Clippers' 113. Call it Boston 118, the Clippers 112.
1/19 vs DEN 100-102 — BOS notes
BOS lost 100-102. BOS took 8 more shots (89 to 81), fed by 12 offensive rebounds, but shot 43% to DEN's 52%, 14 of 44 from three. BOS turned it over 2 times to DEN's 9. White led with 24 (9 of 18, 5 of 12 from three); Tatum added 22, Porziņģis 21. Q2 was theirs, 29-24, but the other 3 periods went 78-71 against them. They led by as many as 12. Holiday's -12 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/21 @ HOU 116-107 — BOS notes
BOS won 116-107. BOS shot 44% (43 of 98) to HOU's 44%, 17 of 47 from three. Porziņģis led with 32 (11 of 21, 6 of 11 from three); White added 21, Tatum 18. The hinge was Q1, 35-25: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 17. Porziņģis was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
1/22 @ DAL 119-110 — BOS notes
BOS won 119-110. BOS shot 47% (41 of 88) to DAL's 44%, 15 of 46 from three, and went to the line 30 times to DAL's 14 — 22 points from the stripe to their 10. Tatum led with 39 (11 of 21, 2 of 8 from three, 15 of 19 at the line); Brown added 34, Holiday 17. The hinge was Q2, 41-33: BOS came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 6, and the lead reached 16. Tatum was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
1/25 @ MIA 143-110 — BOS notes
BOS won 143-110. BOS shot 64% (51 of 80) to MIA's 45%, 22 of 40 from three, and went to the line 20 times to MIA's 13 — 19 points from the stripe to their 10. BOS turned it over 11 times to MIA's 4. The glass went 47-31 for them. Tatum led with 26 (7 of 15, 3 of 7 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Porziņģis added 19, Brown 18. The hinge was Q1, 42-29: from level to 13 ahead, and the lead reached 34. Porziņģis was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
1/27 vs LAC 96-115 — BOS notes
BOS lost 96-115. BOS shot 36% (36 of 100) to LAC's 44%, 10 of 40 from three. Tatum led with 21 (8 of 18, 2 of 4 from three); Pritchard added 12, Kornet 11. Q4 was theirs, 36-24, the deficit cut from 31 to 19, but the other 3 periods went 91-60 against them. Tatum's -32 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/29 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 109, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Tatum at 25 and Porziņģis at 24 a game. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Ingram at 20 and Williamson at 19 a game. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 109 a night to New Orleans's 121 and the turnovers, New Orleans giving it away 13 times a game to Boston's 9. Call it Boston 119, New Orleans 112.
1/30 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 111, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Tatum at 26 and Brown at 19 a game. Without Porziņģis (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 119, shooting 51 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Siakam at 21 and Nembhard at 16 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Haliburton (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 111 a night to Indiana's 119. Call it Boston 121, Indiana 116.
2/01 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 114, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Tatum at 29 and Brown at 21 a game. One day's rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 135, shooting 52 percent and 41 from three, 27 free throws a game; James at 26 and Davis at 25 a game. They have lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Reddish (4 straight), Vincent (21 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 114 a night to the Lakers' 135 and the turnovers, the Lakers giving it away 14 times a game to Boston's 10. Call it Boston 125, the Lakers 116.
2/04 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 17 free throws a game; Tatum at 26 and Porziņģis at 18 a game. 2 days' rest. Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 111, shooting 42 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 26 and Williams Jr. at 16 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Bane (11 straight), LaRavia (10 straight), Williams (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-0 a night and Memphis minus-5 and the arc, Boston at 39 percent from three to Memphis's 34. Call it Boston 117, Memphis 107, Boston by 10.
1/16 vs OKC 128-117 — LAC notes
LAC won 128-117. LAC shot 54% (47 of 87) to OKC's 51%, 20 of 43 from three. George led with 38 (15 of 24, 6 of 12 from three); Harden added 16, Leonard 16. The hinge was Q3, 34-28: a lead of 4 became 10. Leonard was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
1/21 vs BKN 125-114 — LAC notes
LAC won 125-114. LAC shot 51% (42 of 83) to BKN's 49%, 13 of 26 from three, and went to the line 33 times to BKN's 16 — 28 points from the stripe to their 12. Harden led with 24 (6 of 11, 3 of 6 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Westbrook added 23, Leonard 21. The hinge was Q4, 41-15: LAC came in trailing by 15 and left it ahead by 11. LAC trailed 49-61 at the half and won the second half 76-53. Westbrook was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
1/23 vs LAL 127-116 — LAC notes
LAC won 127-116. LAC shot 59% (52 of 88) to LAL's 49%, 14 of 27 from three, and got to the line 12 times to LAL's 22. Leonard led with 25 (11 of 16); Harden added 23, George 17. The hinge was Q2, 42-35: a lead of 6 became 13, and the lead reached 16. Leonard was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
1/26 @ TOR 127-107 — LAC notes
LAC won 127-107. LAC shot 51% (48 of 95) to TOR's 46%, 9 of 32 from three. Harden led with 22 (8 of 14, 2 of 7 from three); George added 21, Westbrook 20. The hinge was Q1, 29-20: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 21. Harden was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
1/27 @ BOS 115-96 — LAC notes
LAC won 115-96. LAC shot 44% (45 of 102) to BOS's 36%, 10 of 40 from three. Leonard led with 26 (10 of 15, 3 of 5 from three); Theis added 18, George 17. The hinge was Q3, 36-21: a lead of 16 became 31, and the lead reached 36. Harden was the night's best plus/minus at +36.
1/29 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 103, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 21 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and Allen at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Garland (18 straight), Eva. Mobley (22 straight). 2 days' rest. The Clippers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 110, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; George at 21 and Leonard at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Zubac (6 straight), Tucker (28 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 103 a night to the Clippers' 110. Call it Cleveland 115, the Clippers 113, the Clippers keeping it close.
1/31 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 114, shooting 48 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; Kuzma at 22 and Bagley III at 15 a game. One day's rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 110, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Leonard at 24 and Harden at 18 a game. Without Zubac (7 straight), Tucker (29 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Washington giving it away 14 times a game to the Clippers' 11. Call it the Clippers 118, Washington 113.
2/02 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Bogdanović at 23 and Ivey at 14 a game. Without Wiseman (5 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 109, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Leonard at 26 and Harden at 18 a game. Without Zubac (8 straight), Tucker (30 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Detroit at 39 percent from three to the Clippers' 34 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 109 a night to Detroit's 116. Call it the Clippers 118, Detroit 113.
2/04 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Butler III at 25 and Herro at 17 a game. Without Robinson (2 straight), Jović (3 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 111, shooting 50 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Leonard at 27 and George at 17 a game. Without Zubac (9 straight), Tucker (31 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 111 a night to Miami's 119. Call it the Clippers 117, Miami 112.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
BOSAH A. Horford
DB D. Banton
DW D. White
JB J. Brown
JH J. Holiday
JT J. Tatum
LK L. Kornet
LS L. Stevens
NQ N. Queta
OB O. Brissett
PP P. Pritchard
SH S. Hauser
SM S. Mykhailiuk
LACAC A. Coffey
BB B. Boston
BH B. Hyland
DT D. Theis
JH J. Harden
KB K. Brown
KL K. Leonard
MP M. Plumlee
NP N. Powell
PG P. George
RW R. Westbrook
TM T. Mann
BOS/LAC the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Clippers win their 5th straight, 115-96 over Celtics. It was just Boston's 2nd home loss
BOSTON -- — The Clippers were embarrassed on their home court the first time they faced the Celtics.
Los Angeles returned the favor during its visit to Boston.
Kawhi Leonard scored 26 points in only 29 minutes and the Clippers routed the Celtics 115-96 on Saturday night.
Paul George added 17 points for Los Angeles, which used a 21-0 run in the third quarter to win its fifth straight and avenge a 37-point home loss to Boston in December. Leonard, George and the rest of Los Angeles’ starters sat the entire fourth quarter.
It was the most lopsided home loss of the season for Boston, which lost for just the second time at TD Garden home after starting the season 20-0 there.
“Yeah, guys were pretty motivated,” Clippers coach Tyronn 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.”
Leonard called it a great step for a Clippers team that began the day with the third-best record in the Western Conference, but has much higher aspirations.
“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 Boston with 21 points. But the Celtics collectively shot just 35% from the field (36 of 101) and 25% (10 of 40) from 3-point range. In Boston's victory in Los Angeles, the Celtics made a season-high 25 3s.
“You're never as good as you think you are, you're never as bad as you think you are,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said.
The Clippers didn’t show any effects of playing on the second night of a back to back, pushing their 16-point halftime lead as high as 36 in the third quarter. They finished with 64 points in the paint.
“(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,” said Clippers guard James Harden , who finished with just nine points but had eight rebounds and seven assists.
Los Angeles did it by exploiting the interior of a Celtics defense that was without 7-footer Kristaps Porzingis , who sat with a sprained left ankle.
The center isn’t expected to miss much time, but his presence was missed against a Clippers team that sped Boston up in the halfcourt forcing the Celtics to settle for jump shots.
It was all on display in the third quarter when Los Angeles had its 21-0 run to take a 79-46 advantage. The stretch included a technical foul on Tatum and rounds of boos from an equally frustrated home crowd.
Saturday was the second game of a season-high seven-game road trip for the Clippers. It also marked the start of a seven-game homestand for Boston, which is its longest of the season.
The Clippers led by as many as 18 in the first half and held a 55-39 halftime lead. Los Angeles held the Celtics to just 29% from the field and 4 for 23 (17%) beyond the arc in the opening 24 minutes.
The Celtics started flat, tying a season low for points in the first quarter (21). They also went the entire first half without registering a second-chance point.