BSJ Game Report: Celtics 117, Clippers 113 (OT) - C's hold on despite more late-game blunders

Everything you need to know about the Celtics win over the Clippers, with BSJ insight and analysis.

IN A NUTSHELL

The Celtics came out hot, but their defense wasn’t good enough as Derrick Jones Jr. went off for 17 points, giving LA a one-point lead. That lead flipped at halftime because the Celtics got 12 points off Clippers turnovers to counter LA’s blistering shooting. They stayed hot and got to the rim easily and the C’s went cold to help the Clippers build a three-point lead. Jaden Springer’s defensive energy, and maybe some fatigue for the Clippers, completely changed the fourth as the Celtics started on a huge run, but they collapsed again with a late lead to go into overtime, where the Celtics opened up with three 3-pointers to take control. 

Box Score

HEADLINES

- Springer the game-changer: He’s definitely the story of the game tonight. He checked in with 4:18 to go in the third quarter. At that point, the Clippers were shooting 60% and Kevin Porter Jr. had scored 24 points on 11-16 shooting. After that, Porter was 1-5 and the Clippers dropped to 40% the rest of the way with 11 turnovers, four of them Springer steals. 

- Clutch problems again: The Celtics were up 103-97 with 1:03 to go and 103-99 with :20 to go. But instead of closing the game out, the Celtics gave up two layups and a dunk over the final minute while Jaylen Brown committed two turnovers in 20 seconds. It’s a good thing things went well in OT. 

- Back-to-back wins: On January 23, the Celtics got their first back-to-back win since January 2 and 3. 

TURNING POINT

It absolutely has to be when Springer checked in late in the third. Joe Mazzulla saw what we all saw, that the game needed a defensive change. Going with Springer, even though there were some offensive issues because of it through a big chunk of the fourth quarter, was one hell of a button to push for Mazzulla. Even though the game still went to overtime, I don’t know if the Celtics would have found their way back to a tie without Springer. 

THINGS I LIKED

- Jaden Springer: How about those two 3-pointers he hit? Obviously much more coming up on him. 

- Jaylen Brown (non-clutch minutes): He was on his way to a pretty nice night before the final minute of the game. He and Jayson Tatum got the team off to a great start, and his final numbers (25 points on 53% shooting, six assists, two rebounds, three steals) looked really good. I thought his energy was mostly good. 

- Jayson Tatum: He finished with 24 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists, but he didn’t shoot well (41% overall and just 4-13, 31%, from 3). 

- Sam Hauser: Good to see the ball going in for him. He finished the night 5-7 from 3 for 15 points. 

- Neemias Queta: I thought he was mostly good in this game. He was 5-7 from the field, including the game-sealing layup. And he did a pretty good job defensively for the most part, though the few mistakes he made were glaring and costly. He still has to get better at understanding where he needs to be when defending pick-and-rolls. 

- Derrick White: Not his best overall shooting night but he was huge in the fourth quarter (4-7, 2-4 3pt) and in overtime. 

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE

- The clutch performance: More down below … but c’mon, man. Those games have to be handled better. These meltdowns have cost Boston a win and wear and tear with tonight’s overtime. Why did the Celtics throw the ball into corners so often late in the game? They willingly put themselves into traps, turning the sideline and baseline into sixth and seventh defenders 

- Refs missing the timeout: All of this could have been avoided if the refs had heard Joe Mazzulla calling timeout. We heard it on the broadcast. Listen when Brown catches the ball on the blocks. 

Maybe the NBA needs to add an official or designate someone to ring a buzzer or something if a coach is calling timeout on the sidelines in a loud arena. That can’t happen. 

- Payton Pritchard: Rough shooting night for him (1-7 3pt) and he had three turnovers. 

HIGHLIGHTS

ONE TAKE KARALIS WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

- For the love of God, find a way to execute in the clutch

This is a championship team. They have played on the biggest stage and won. Why are they suddenly so panicky in the clutch? 

The Celtics are so incredibly passive with a late lead that they are making silly mistakes instead of putting teams away. We had Jrue Holiday brain farts against the Hawks and tonight the Celtics kept getting the ball into tight spots, making it very easy for the Clippers to trap and force mistakes. 

“(We have to be) strong with the ball, cut to the basket,” Mazzulla said. “Sometimes you try to be a little passive, where you're trying to make a pass … you got to make the layup, you got to be strong with the ball, you got to get the spacing, you got to be aggressive.”

This is Boston’s absolute worst habit. Their passivity when trying to nurse leads is mind-blowing. They are playing so afraid of making mistakes that they don’t show any signs of wanting to actually score outside of shooting free throws. 

I know the Celtics are trying to play the clock game, but also, scoring the ball makes it impossible for the other team to come back. Turning it over is an easy way to help teams come back. 

I’d love to see the Celtics just go for it and play the fourth quarter with a good pace instead of dancing with the ball. Teams know that putting the pressure on Boston will work, so they're not actually trying to foul in these late-game situations. Just go make a play and put the game away.

Next up: The Celtics stay in Los Angeles to face the Lakers Thursday night.