For the candidates for the title, during the long regular season, we obviously need consistency in results, but also strong moments, benchmark matches. This is an important sign to measure the level of a team. This is exactly what the Clippers achieved in Boston.
Los Angeles came to win in Massachusetts by a large score, after an authoritarian performance, to inflict a second home defeat on Joe Mazzulla's troop.
“The guys were very motivated. The Celtics came to Los Angeles and dominated us, so they were very focused,” remember Tyronn Lue, facing the setback (145-108) on December 23. “We were back-to-back but they were motivated, ready for the challenge. Paul George could have missed this match, but he wanted to play, to test himself. It was a real-life test against a great team. »
The Clippers’ benchmark match
James Harden confirms this dimension for him and his teammates. “It was against a team that plays very, very well, especially at home. We still have a way to go but it was a good test for us”declares the 2018 MVP.
The Clippers had already won big matches this season, against Denver, Oklahoma City and even Phoenix. But there, they passed this test with success. Brilliant even. They led by more than 30 points, with total control over the match. The Celtics, who had just crushed Miami with a fiery attack, were extinguished. The Clippers have never seemed as strong this season as during these 48 minutes on the floor of TD Garden.
This fifth victory in a row is now the benchmark success for Kawhi Leonard and his gang.
“I'm happy with this victory against the Celtics but it doesn't mean much until we're in the playoffs,” tempers the winger. “We will have to do the same: execute our attack well, take shots and defend well. We still have to improve as the season goes on. So when the time comes, we will move forward efficiently. »
| Shots | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Bp | Int | Ct | Party | Pts |
| Kawhi Leonard | 39 | 34.6 | 52.2 | 44.4 | 87.9 | 1.1 | 5.1 | 6.2 | 3.8 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 23.5 |
| Paul George | 41 | 34.5 | 46.6 | 41.7 | 90.8 | 0.6 | 4.9 | 5.5 | 3.6 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 2.9 | 23.4 |
| James Harden | 38 | 34.3 | 45.9 | 41.9 | 87.6 | 0.3 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 8.6 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 17.4 |
| Norman Powell | 43 | 25.5 | 49.9 | 44.7 | 87.0 | 0.1 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 13.6 |
| Ivica Zubac | 38 | 27.1 | 65.5 | 0.0 | 64.8 | 3.3 | 6.5 | 9.7 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 2.9 | 12.4 |
| Russell Westbrook | 43 | 23.2 | 46.8 | 30.0 | 67.3 | 1.6 | 4.3 | 5.9 | 4.7 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 11.5 |
| Terance Mann | 37 | 25.2 | 45.1 | 30.1 | 75.0 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 3.2 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 7.5 |
| Bones Hyland | 17 | 13.9 | 38.9 | 35.7 | 83.3 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 6.7 |
| Daniel Theis | 32 | 17.2 | 52.8 | 41.9 | 73.7 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 3.7 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 6.5 |
| Mason Plumlee | 13 | 16.7 | 63.8 | 0.0 | 58.8 | 1.2 | 3.9 | 5.2 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 6.2 |
| Kj Martin | 2 | 15.7 | 40.0 | 20.0 | 50.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 5.0 |
| Amir Coffey | 31 | 15.8 | 55.8 | 42.9 | 84.2 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 4.6 |
| Bj Boston, Jr. | 9 | 6.7 | 42.4 | 28.6 | 100.0 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 1.1 | 4.2 |
| Robert Covington | 3 | 23.1 | 33.3 | 25.0 | 50.0 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 3.0 |
| Moussa Diabate | 10 | 5.8 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 75.0 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 2.7 |
| Nicolas Batum | 3 | 18.0 | 37.5 | 28.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 2.7 |
| Kobe Brown | 26 | 9.6 | 39.3 | 30.6 | 50.0 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 2.2 |
| Joshua Primo | 1 | 5.0 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| Jordan Miller | 4 | 4.0 | 60.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 1.8 |
| Pj Tucker | 12 | 14.4 | 28.6 | 27.3 | 100.0 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 2.2 | 1.2 |
| Xavier Moon | 2 | 5.8 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 |
