LA Clippers blow out Celtics in 'measuring stick' recreation – ESPN

Kawhi Leonard will get up and places Luke Kornet on a poster with a large slam. (0:22)
BOSTON — From the playoff-like, detail-oriented workforce walkthrough on Saturday to Paul George insisting he play by means of a sore groin harm on the second evening of a back-to-back, Ty Lue noticed a really motivated LA Clippers squad hours earlier than dealing with the Boston Celtics.
In what Lue described as a “measuring stick” recreation, the Clippers led by as a lot as 36 factors and trounced the Celtics, 115-96, at a dissatisfied TD Backyard on Saturday evening.
The Clippers (30-14) are the most well liked workforce in basketball, enhancing to a league-best 22-4 since Dec. 1. A type of losses was an embarrassing 145-108 loss at residence to the Celtics on Dec. 23. Whereas that defeat got here with out an injured Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers had been searching for payback.
Of their most spectacular assertion win of the season, the Clippers handed Boston its second loss at residence this season.
“The fellows had been fairly motivated,” Lue mentioned. “… Once they got here to L.A., they did us fairly dangerous. So guys had been locked in.
“… This was a recreation [where] PG, we thought he could be out, however he needed to play to see the place we’re at. Only a measuring stick in opposition to a fantastic workforce. We simply needed to sort of see the place we’re at. We had that on our thoughts.”
Although the Celtics (35-11) have misplaced solely twice at residence this season, each have come consecutively. The Celtics misplaced to Denver on Jan. 19, and this newest residence setback got here with out the injured Kristaps Porzingis.
The Clippers held the Celtics to 36% taking pictures and blew the sport open with a 21-0 run within the third quarter.
James Harden mentioned it was the Clippers’ greatest defensive efficiency of the season.
“In opposition to a workforce that was enjoying actually, very well,” Harden mentioned. “Particularly at residence. … We nonetheless obtained some methods to go, however this can be a good check for us.”
Usually, this could be the kind of recreation that the Clippers would battle with up to now. It was the second evening of a back-to-back after they received in Toronto on Friday evening. They’re initially of a grueling journey that can see them play seven video games in 11 nights.
George performed in that Toronto victory whereas nursing a groin problem. It will have been straightforward for the Clippers to carry their star out to be protected, particularly in opposition to a Boston workforce that went into the evening with the second-best report since Dec. 1 at 21-6.
However the Clippers entered this season saying they wanted to take the common season extra significantly. Their stars have prevented prolonged accidents, and the Clippers have been discovering methods to win video games even once they aren’t enjoying their greatest. Since a 3-7 begin, the Clippers are 27-7.
On Saturday, George, Harden and Russell Westbrook mixed to shoot 9-for-31. George scored 17 factors, however Harden had solely 9 factors and Westbrook scored simply 4.
However defensively, the Clippers challenged pictures, holding Boston to 22-of-75 taking pictures within the first three quarters. The Celtics obtained 21 factors from Jayson Tatum, however Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday mixed to shoot 5-for-24 and rating a complete of 15 factors.
Leonard, who made 10-of-15 pictures and completed with 26 factors, agreed with Harden that the Clippers’ performed excellent protection. However the two-time Finals MVP is concentrated on taking the Clippers to a first-ever NBA Finals look.
“I am completely satisfied that we had been capable of are available and provides the Celtics a loss,” Leonard mentioned. “Nevertheless it actually doesn’t suggest nothing till you get to the playoffs and also you’re doing the issues we did tonight — executing, making pictures, enjoying good protection.
“It is good that we had carryover from final evening coming from Toronto and profitable these back-to-back video games. However you bought to only hold getting higher because the 12 months goes on.”

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