Celtics need overtime to slip past Clippers

Field Level Media|published: Thu 23rd January, 01:47 2025

Jan 22, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta (88) drives against LA Clippers guard Kobe Brown (21) during the third quarter at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images

Jaylen Brown scored 25 points and Jayson Tatum added 24 as the visiting Boston Celtics pulled out a 117-113 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday at Inglewood, Calif., on a night when key players were missing from both sides.

While the Celtics won without Jrue Holiday (shoulder), Al Horford (toe) and Kristaps Porzingis (illness), the Clippers were without four starters: Kawhi Leonard (rest), James Harden (groin), Norman Powell (back) and Ivica Zubac (eye). Nicolas Batum (finger) and Kris Dunn (knee) also were out for Los Angeles.

Derrick White delivered 20 points and Sam Hauser had 15 for Boston, which improved to 2-0 to begin a four-game road trip following a 3-4 stretch. The Celtics will remain in Los Angeles and face the Lakers on Thursday.

Derrick Jones Jr. produced 29 points and Kevin Porter Jr. added 26 for the Clippers, who lost their second consecutive game following a four-game winning streak. Leonard and Zubac did not play in either defeat.

Amir Coffey put up 24 points, Terance Mann had 11 and Kobe Brown grabbed 11 rebounds for the Clippers, who are 1-2 in a stretch of four games in five days that ends Thursday at home against the Washington Wizards.

The Clippers sent the game into overtime by scoring the last six points of regulation in the final minute. A basket by Mann and a dunk from Coffey preceded a steal and length-of-the court drive and layup from Jones that tied the score 103-103 with 4.2 seconds remaining.

Boston scored the first six points of the extra period on 3-pointers from White and Tatum but didn't seal the victory until Neemias Queta sank a layup in the closing seconds.

Using a makeshift lineup that included Mo Bamba and Porter making their second starts of the season, the Clippers stayed competitive by speeding up their offense.

The Clippers led 34-33 after one quarter and trailed 60-59 at halftime. Los Angeles led by as many as five points in the third quarter and went into the final period with an 84-81 lead. Boston was unable to preserve a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter.

Los Angeles shot 52.2 percent for the game and 32.1 percent (9 of 28) from 3-point range, while Boston shot 45.6 percent and 38 percent (19 of 50), respectively.

--Field Level Media

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