Recap: Clippers crush Celtics 114-90 in LA
The Clippers took it to the Celtics at the Staples Center tonight, beating the Celtics 114-90. With the loss and wins by Atlanta and Miami, the Celtics fall to a half game behind Miami and into fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
It was a tough night on the offensive end for the Celtics, who hit only 36% of their shots from the floor.
Isaiah Thomas led the Celtics with 24 points. The game marked his 13th straight game with 20+ points. Isaiah got to the line plenty, going 12-13 from the charity stripe, but only 5-14 from the field (2-5 from deep).
The Clippers were paced by Chris Paul's 13 points and 14 assists and Deandre Jordan's 15 points and 13 rebounds. The Clippers shot 52% from the floor and 44% from deep.
Marcus Smart made a little progress on the offensive end, shooting 6-12 and ending up with 13 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists. Still ice cold from deep though, missing all 4 of his 3PA.
Clippers shot 60% in the first quarter; the Celtics trailed 30-24 after one.
The Celtics got off to a 3-17 start from the floor in the second quarter and trailed 52-34 with 4:47 to go in the half. They had the lead down to 12 with under a minute to go in the frame, but a few made free throws by Deandre Jordan of all people and a dagger three by Chris Paul with a tick left on the clock sent the teams into the locker room with the Clippers leading 67-50. LA outscored the Celtics 37-26 in the second quarter.
It seemed like the Celtics were going to go on a run behind Thomas' repeated beelines to the hoop in the third quarter, but a couple of gross lob passes by IT4 killed momentum and the Clippers ended up taking a 22 point lead into the fourth quarter.
Paul Pierce left the game early after a scary fall in the first half. In what could be his last game against the Celtics, Pierce put up 8 points on 4-6 shooting. Initial reports were that Pierce suffered an ankle sprain and that the Clippers dodged a bullet with the injury thought to be minor.
Photo Credit Richard Mackson USA Today
