The Boston Celtics demolished the Los Angeles Clippers, 126-94, on Monday, as they tied the NBA document for many three-pointers by a crew in 1 / 4, with 12. Furthermore, Kristaps Porzingis made his damage return after lacking the Celtics’ first 17 video games on account of restoration from ankle surgical procedure. His addition, together with Jrue Vacation, by way of commerce, lastly received Boston their league-best 18th title after knocking on the door for thus a few years.
“It was an extended rehab. I used to be itching to get again on the market with this crew after successful a championship. It was a very good starting. A very good first sport again,” the ahead stated, by way of Celtics reporter Jay King on X, previously Twitter.
Celtics blow out Clippers with sizzling taking pictures
In his return from damage, Kristaps Porzingis contributed 16 factors (6-12 taking pictures), six rebounds, and two blocks in 23 minutes because the Celtics snapped the Clippers’ five-game successful streak.
In the meantime, that is Boston’s sixth-straight win, which incorporates handing the Cleveland Cavaliers their first loss this season, snapping their undefeated streak at 15-1.
A whole effort from the Celtics dismantled the Clippers, at present on a four-game street journey, the place they hadn’t allowed opponents to attain over 100 factors till this sport.
Six gamers scored in double figures for Boston, whose avalanche of threes within the second quarter might have already determined the sport, because the Clippers couldn’t mount a comeback.
They ended up scoring 51 factors within the second quarter, the third-most factors scored in 1 / 4 in franchise historical past.
“I believe our tempo is unbelievable proper now,” Payton Pritchard stated, who scored 20 factors off the bench, by way of Trevor Hass of Celtics Weblog. “I believe that is our greatest sport so far as our tempo, getting up and down. Even after makes, we’re taking part in fast, and it is permitting us to get straightforward catch-and-shoot 3’s. Once we’re doing that, we’re one of the best within the enterprise.”
After beginning the second half on a 10-0 run, the Clippers minimize the lead all the way down to 19, however the Celtics stayed sturdy and carried a 99-78 lead heading into the ultimate interval.
With Porzingis again, the Celtics needn’t rely closely on the 38-year-old Al Horford as their inside presence. It additionally rounds out the crew, with one other shooter of their five-out offense and a strong disruptive shot blocker on protection.
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Who can beat this crew?
Regardless of the Cavaliers taking part in out of their thoughts proper now, the Celtics stay the crew to beat, on paper and on the court docket.
They’ve a roster filled with two-way guys who can all shoot the ball, make performs, and play protection, resembling a maybe extra refined model of the prime Golden State Warriors.
It might take vital roster tweaking for any Jap Convention contender, besides in all probability the Magic when Paolo Banchero returns, to match the Celtics’ athleticism and size or overwhelm them with physicality and measurement.