WHO: Celtics (17-17) vs. Clippers (24-12)
WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: TD Garden
RADIO: 98.5 The Sports Hub
TV: TNT
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUPS
Celtics
G: Kemba Walker
G: Jaylen Brown
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Daniel Theis
C: Tristan Thompson
Clippers
G: Patrick Beverley
G: Nic Batum
SF: Paul George
PF: Kawhi Leonard
C: Serge Ibaka
The Boston Celtics (17-17, 16-18 ATS) won back-to-back games for the first time since January with a final-minute comeback led by Jayson Tatum to beat the Wizards 111-110. They host the Clippers (24-12, 20-16 ATS) in the penultimate game before the all star break after beating the Clippers 119-115 in February.
Paul George will play for LA this time, with Patrick Patterson, Daniel Oturu and Jay Scrubb are out for the Clippers.
Jaylen Brown (knee) is active with Marcus Smart (calf) and Romeo Langford (wrist) still out for Boston.
According to the online sports book Betonline.ag, the Clippers are 4.5 point favorites, with Boston underdogs for the first time since Feb. 9 at the Jazz.
The Skinny
The Clippers are 7-4 since losing to the Celtics in LA, losing their 12-point advantage after the first quarter due to Jayson Tatum’s 34 points and a flurry of Carsen Edwards shots. Paul George sat that game out with a right toe injury.
Their three-point shooting has dipped in the weeks since with Kawhi Leonard down to 36% over that stretch while still averaging 28 points per game. George is averaging 20, with Lou Williams close behind at 17 while Marcus Morris is shooting 48% from three over his last 13 games.
Boston held LA to 43.8% after the Clippers started 58% from outside in the first half. Ty Lue’s team is still on the edge of team shooting history with a 41.6% mark from outside. Their 110 defensive rating is the league median.
Patrick Beverley and George missed the February meeting between these teams and will be available as capable defenders on Jaylen Brown and Kemba Walker, who have shot inconsistently this season.
Predictions
This is the fully-loaded version of LA and the limited one required one of the great second halves of the season for Boston to narrowly escape. Boston’s movement has improved with Walker facilitating in crunch time, Tatum had his best two performances in weeks over the weekend and finally looked like his all star self in the closing minutes of the win over the Wizards. He shot 6-of-6 at the rim, though it’s still the hapless Washington defense.
The Celtics have found ways to be better defensively, but their rim protection is periodically a mess. Ivica Zubac peppered Boston’s defense with pick-and-roll dives last game. When Beverley is available LA outscores opponents by 10 points per 100 possessions, above even George’s net rating.
Robert Williams thrived on Friday and struggled on Sunday as a barometer for how good Boston’s defense can be when he’s available. Boston will need to win this game on that end of the floor.
They flashed an ability to grab offensive boards against the a good Clips rebounding unit last time, but they closed the game out with lockdown three-point defense. It’ll be more difficult this time. The Celtics are 10-5 at TD Garden.
Boston 111, Los Angeles 109 (16-13, 12-14 ATS)
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