The Boston Celtics showed their resilience in a hard-fought 117-113 overtime victory against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night. With key players Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis unavailable, Boston leaned on their dynamic duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, who scored 25 and 24 points, respectively. Derrick White added 20 points, and Sam Hauser contributed 15, connecting on five crucial 3-pointers.
The game was a battle of attrition, with 16 ties and 25 lead changes. The Celtics trailed by six early in the fourth quarter but stormed back with a 13-0 run, fueled by three consecutive 3-pointers—two from White and one from Tatum—to seize control. Despite their surge, the Clippers, led by Derrick Jones Jr.'s career-high 29 points, forced overtime after Jones' steal and layup tied the game at 103 with 4.2 seconds left in regulation.
In the extra period, Boston asserted themselves with a trio of 3-pointers from White, Tatum, and Brown, building a 112-105 advantage. Though the Clippers cut the deficit to two points twice in the final minute, Neemias Queta's crucial basket underneath sealed the win for the Celtics as the clock expired.
The Celtics' ability to overcome a scrappy Clippers team and rally in crunch time underscores their depth and determination. Despite being shorthanded, Boston's second unit and perimeter shooting carried them to a gritty victory, keeping them firmly in contention near the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
Jayson Tatum: B+
Stats: 24 PTS, 7 REB (0 OREB, 7 DREB), 8 AST, 1 STL, 2 BLK, 5 TO, 1 PF, 9-22 FG, 4-13 3PT, 2-3 FT, +1, 43 MIN
Tatum led the Celtics with 24 points while adding 7 rebounds and 8 assists, showing his playmaking versatility. He hit four three-pointers, including a clutch shot in overtime, but his 9-for-22 shooting reflected some inefficiency and 5 turnovers dampened his performance. Despite this, Tatum's ability to deliver in key moments helped secure the win.
Jaylen Brown: B+
Stats: 25 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 6 AST, 3 STL, 1 BLK, 5 TO, 4 PF, 8-15 FG, 2-2 3PT, 7-9 FT, +1, 39 MIN
Brown matched Tatum's impact with 25 points on 8-for-15 shooting, including a perfect 2-for-2 from deep and 7-for-9 from the free-throw line. He also contributed 6 assists and 3 steals, showcasing his two-way ability. While his 5 turnovers and 4 fouls were a concern, Brown's timely scoring, including a big three in overtime, was instrumental in the Celtics' victory.
Derrick White: B+
Stats: 20 PTS, 6 REB (2 OREB, 4 DREB), 4 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 1 PF, 7-17 FG, 4-12 3PT, 2-2 FT, +8, 42 MIN
White scored 20 points and grabbed 6 rebounds, providing crucial secondary scoring and hitting 4 three-pointers. He also dished out 4 assists and played solid defense with a +8 plus/minus in 42 minutes. Though his shooting (7-for-17 FG, 4-for-12 3PT) was inconsistent, White’s contributions in overtime, including a clutch three, proved vital.
Sam Hauser: B
Stats: 15 PTS, 4 REB (0 OREB, 4 DREB), 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 5-7 FG, 5-7 3PT, 0-0 FT, -3, 25 MIN
Hauser was a sharpshooting threat off the bench, scoring 15 points on a perfect 5-for-7 from beyond the arc. He grabbed 4 rebounds but provided little else statistically. While his -3 plus/minus highlighted defensive limitations, Hauser's ability to stretch the floor kept the Celtics in the game during critical moments.
Neemias Queta: B-
Stats: 11 PTS, 4 REB (2 OREB, 2 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 5-7 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-2 FT, -12, 23 MIN
Queta added 11 points and 4 rebounds in 23 minutes, making his presence felt inside with 5-of-7 shooting. He also contributed a pivotal basket in overtime but struggled defensively, reflected in his -12 plus/minus. His physicality and effort were valuable, but his impact was inconsistent.
Payton Pritchard: C+
Stats: 9 PTS, 4 REB (2 OREB, 2 DREB), 3 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 0 PF, 4-11 FG, 1-7 3PT, 0-0 FT, +10, 28 MIN
Pritchard contributed 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists in 28 minutes. While his effort was apparent, his shooting (4-for-11 FG, 1-for-7 3PT) left much to be desired. Despite his struggles, Pritchard’s +10 plus/minus reflected his ability to impact the game in other ways.
Jaden Springer: C+
Stats: 8 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 0 AST, 4 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 3 PF, 2-6 FG, 2-6 3PT, 2-2 FT, +5, 20 MIN
Springer provided energy off the bench with 8 points and 4 steals, showcasing his defensive prowess. He shot 2-for-6 from the field and from beyond the arc, adding 2 free throws. His +5 plus/minus highlighted his defensive contributions, but his offensive game remained limited.
Luke Kornet: C
Stats: 2 PTS, 2 REB (1 OREB, 1 DREB), 1 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 0-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 2-2 FT, +18, 30 MIN
Kornet played 30 minutes, contributing just 2 points but adding 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block. His defense and presence in the paint were notable, as evidenced by his +18 plus/minus, but his lack of offensive production limited his overall impact.
Jordan Walsh: N/A
Stats: 3 PTS, 1 REB (1 OREB, 0 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 1-1 FG, 1-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, -5, 9 MIN
Walsh played only 9 minutes, scoring 3 points on a perfect 1-for-1 from deep while adding 1 rebound and 1 assist. His limited time prevented him from having a significant impact, but he showed promise in his brief stint.
Baylor Scheierman: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 0-2 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-0 FT, -3, 6 MIN
Scheierman played 6 minutes and failed to score, missing both of his three-point attempts. With no other contributions to the box score aside from 1 foul, his performance was largely unremarkable in limited action.
