BY: VENANCIO VALENCIA — SPORTS ON AIR — CORRESPONDENT
INGLEWOOD — No Jrue Holiday. No Kristaps Porzingis. No problem for the Boston Celtics.
Despite missing 40 percent of their starting unit, the defending champions eked out a 117-113 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night at the Intuit Dome.
The minor upset needed an extra session but the Celtics pulled it off.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 51 points to lead the charge. Derrick White added 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Bench play also played a key role for Boston as reserves Peyton Pritchard, Neemias Queta and Jaden Springer combined for 28 markers.
While the Celtics were missing two starters, the Clippers were more depleted with Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac all dressed in street clothes.
Derrick Jones Jr. led the undermanned Clippers with 29 points on 12-of-20 shooting while Kevin PorterJr. pumped 26 and 7 assists.
Despite the best efforts of the reserve crew they were outlasted in overtime, 14-10. But coach Ty Lue was extremely pleased.
“When you play hard, you can compete. That’s what happens. You’re in every game. You have a chance to win and still at the end, I’m proud of my guys, our young guys for getting the opportunity to play and doing a good job,” Lue said.
Boston improved to 31-13 to crawl to within 5.5 games of the 36-7 Cleveland Cavaliers for the best record in the NBA. The Clippers fell to 24-19 for sixth place in the ultra competitive Western Conference.
