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Celtics Wrap: Boston’s Paint Presence Too Much For Clippers
The Celtics shot just 28% from 3-point range

NESN by Keagan Stiefel

BOSTON — The Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Clippers, 116-110, on Thursday at TD Garden.

The C’s improved to 26-10 while the Clippers fell to 21-16.

ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
There’s been something about the Clippers over the last few seasons that have caused problems for the Celtics. Thursday was no different, but Boston was able to overcome its issues with a roster at full strength and a number of favorable matchups.

Jaylen Brown was the igniter in a pair of Celtics runs that really decided this game. In both the second and fourth quarter, Brown would go on runs of scoring seven-consecutive points to keep the Clippers at bay and help regain the lead.

Brown’s athleticism was too much for Los Angeles’ guards to handle, as he continuously got to the rim with ease. When it wasn’t him, it was Robert Williams III cleaning the glass and affording Boston second-chance opportunities. The Clippers practically refused to play Ivica Zubac in the fourth quarter, making it all the more easy for the Celtics to play in the paint.

On a night where the Celtics shot 28% from 3-point range and the Clippers shot 39%, a change in on-court philosophy was needed. Boston made that switch, and eventually came away with a win.

STARS OF THE GAME
— Brown scored 29 points on the night, chipping in seven rebounds and two assists along the way. He was the driving force of Boston’s most important runs.

— Jayson Tatum finished with 29 points, 10 rebounds and a block in the win.

— Marcus Smart had another tremendous night as the Celtics’ primary facilitator. The veteran finished with nine assists and 17 points on 7-of-15 shooting. He also contributed three rebounds two steals and a block.

WAGER WATCH
Brown blew past his total points prop in this one. DraftKings Sportsbook set his total at 27.5, giving him -105 odds of surpassing the number. He hit it easily, meaning a $100 bet would have netted a total payout of $195.24.

UP NEXT
The Celtics will begin a four-game road trip their next time out on the court. The roadie starts with a matchup against the Denver Nuggets on New Year’s Day. Tipoff from Ball Arena is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.

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That is what I like to see, a total Benjamin Moore paint job of TD Garden!

That is a good sign that they went and attacked the paint verses lobbing up 3 point shots.

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Good to see the team have to grind out a hardnosed game. Clippers have a winning record even with their 2 stars missing so many games. PG and Kawhi definitely get up for us and on a night J’s went 3-19 from 3, they still did enough both ends to grind out a tough win. Jaylen with some unstoppable drives, attacking the rim taking it right to them. Huge 12 points in 4th by Jaylen, Tatum also with some strong finishes and workmanlike 11 rebounds. Was good match up, Kawhi had his jumper working, doesn’t attack the rim like before. Paul George also had some nice moments, they are one of the few teams that can still match up well with our wings.

Great games by White and Smart both ends and with key defensive plays down the stretch. Al and RWill did their jobs, I don’t know why they played Zubac so little in 2nd half, he did a lot of good bigman things for them in 1st half. He’s improved alot over the years, can do some good things in the paint. Was annoyed we got very lackadaisical with 12 point lead with 3 minutes left and turned the ball over too many times, letting it get too close. We gutted it out, made enough plays to pull it out, J’s both a point away from a 30-30.

It seemed like the Clippers targeted White's smaller size by forcing switches until they got the matchup they wanted, with either Leonard or George on the attack. It worked for a while and then the Celtics swapped out Grant for White. That took away the size advantage, I thought it showed a great in-game reaction by the coaching staff.

The next thing I knew, White was back in the game. I was thinking, WTH?, you just gave them the advantage back. This time, the Celtics sent a double team in a timely manner, just enough to take away their spin move, and the Clipper player ended up passing the ball back out. They did the timely help thing for a bit, trying to keep the ball out of the hands of Leonard and PG.

That worked enough for the Celtics to leave White on the floor at the end of the game, where his block (and then Horford's) helped seal the win.

Just a couple of observations from last night:

1. This team does not panic. I still have flashbacks to our team just 2-3 years ago where you anticipated the collapse and it would not disappoint. Not anymore.

2. Defense was/is scary good and coming into form very quickly. Great final minute to drive that statement home. Overall, lots of blocked shots, opportune TO's for fast breaks leading to easy buckets. You know the routine...

3. When White drives to the basket...This dude is beginning to pay off huge. Now someone on defense has to watch him as he's a bigger, more annoying threat. Thanks, Pop!!

4. Don't need the 3-ball to win. Yet another way to win games. Old School. Lots of wide open twos, fast breaks and lay ups when you look for them. Again, use the 3-ball as an afterthought, not the main course. We're getting there.

5. Boston keeps the competition honest enough to know we can go off from 3-ville at any time if we need to in order to squash you like a bug.

6. RWIII looking good. 4 OR's. Easy points around the basket. 2 Blocks. 12 points. Keep It Simple.

7. Our "regular" bench (which should not include RWIII unless there is a change coming) lost big again. Although I have to say I'm liking RWIII coming off the bench. When White starts, the ball moves better and the lane is open for business. BTW, Where's Brogden?! (Day-to-Day) And CJ for that matter?!!

OK, that's enough. A somewhat disappointing 4-3 for this home stretch which should have easily been 7-0 but if you're going to have a meltdown, this could have been a lot worse. And besides, those around us suffered as well sans BKN so no real ground lost while we took it on the chin. Hopefully, we've learned our lesson(s).

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Great win, Clippers match up well and are tough. Marcus is playing great, making the right plays almost every time and he always makes a big defensive play or two. D White also played great. He makes tough hard nosed plays and is always targeted on defense, but he hangs in and plays tough.

The J's continue to get it done. Both were off from three, but they continue to find ways to score and make plays. It's great seeing how much better they are, and even better that they can still improve.

Is Timelord on a minutes restriction? The minutes he played with last years starting lineup in the first half the Celtics were dominant. I was wondering why it took so long (2 minutes left in third quarter) to put him back in the game and why they didn't go back to that lineup? Zubac was hurting us in the third quarter, I was surprised it took Damon so long to put Timelord back in. He's really starting to look good, but I guess Celtics are being cautious?

Nice to see RWIII continue to make progress. Opponents are forced to alter their game with him on the floor.

Smart and RWIII combine for some of the best D in the league.

I’ve seen reports that the plan is to keep RWIII in his role coming off the bench with White in the starting lineup. Might be recognition of the hot start by the current lineup as well as a way to preserve RWIII through the remainder of the season. If so, hard to debate. I’d much rather see RWIII come of the bench in managed minutes instead of riding the bench with sore knees.

The Celtics made more plays down the stretch with the game on the line.

I was surprised to see Rob still on the bench for most of the 1st QTR.  He did not enter until 2:03 remaining in the QTR.

The Clippers used their size advantage to exploit Derrick White.    White had a very solid game at both ends overall.  The Celtics showed some double teaming and that seemed to work.  We have not seen a lot of double teaming all season.  CJ has not employed that defensive strategy.  

The Jays each scored 29 points.  For the second straight game they combined for 51 out of 91 FGA.  How rare is that?  In the end our studs outplayed their studs.  Our studs are better than their studs and remain the best wing pairing in the NBA.

They did not shoot the ball well but still managed to make the big shots when needed.  

Marcus Smart was amazing at both ends of the court.  His passing was on target.  He is uniquely qualified to get the best out of JT and JB.

I got a bit nervous when JT was warming the bench in the 4th QTR.  I thought Dame should have brought him back earlier.

Grant had 10 rebounds.  He only took one shot.  He made a big time 3 pointer when we needed it.  He made the play of the game off of a hustle play to retain possession.  Again, it was another winning play.

In the 4th the coach was subbing out Rob for AH and he did that twice.  

We saw some really impressive ball movement.  

Although the Celtics did not shoot the ball well from deep, they made up for it by going 17/22 from the FT line while The Clips only shot 9/14.

We also won the rebounding battle 49-41, PITP 54-42, fastbreak 17-11.    Basically we were dominant on the glass and in the paint plus we outran them.  

Considering this home stand produced an 0-3 record to start, finishing it with a 4-0 win streak including victories against the Bucks and Clippers, was a great way to close out the year.