INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Clippers didn’t have enough to hold on late as they fall in overtime to the Boston Celtics 117-113 on Wednesday night. Los Angeles was without seven players due to injury but found a way to keep the game competitive. The Clippers are now 24-19 after the loss and will look to end their two skid tonight against the Washington Wizards.
Here are some takeaways from the Clippers loss to the Celtics:
Shorthanded Clips show some fight
Coming into this game many thought the Celtics would run over the shorthanded Clippers but Los Angeles showed true fight in the tough loss.
Los Angeles came into the game missing seven players including four starters on Wednesday night.
The Clippers surprisingly kept the game close and competitive all night.
Los Angeles found offense with three players scoring 24 or more points in the game.
Until the fourth quarter and overtime defensively the Clippers did a good job containing the potent Celtics offense.
Though they came up short in this game the fight the group out there was very inspiring and showed the depth of this year’s Clippers team.
LA forces overtime against defending champs
The Clippers held onto an 84-81 lead going into the fourth quarter.
The team had played inspiringly great basketball up until that point.
The fourth quarter is where they found some issues especially on the offensive end. Boston slowed the Clippers down with their stifling defense only allowing 19 points in the quarter.
Defense shined in the quarter for both teams as the Clippers only allowed 22 points but their defense got them back into the game.
Los Angeles trailed by seven points late in the fourth, but Amir Coffey scored on a dunk and then Derrick Jones Jr. stole the ball from Brown and scored with 4.2 seconds remaining to tie the game at 103-103 and force overtime.
Jones Jr. scores his career-high
With four of his fellow starters out forward Derrick Jones Jr. was asked to step up offensively and he did exactly that.
Jones Jr. led the Clippers in scoring with a career-high 29 points. He shot 8-for-13 (61%) from the field including 3-for-5 from 3.
The eight-year pro added 5 rebounds, 3 steals and a block.
Jones Jr. stayed aggressive all night and showed if leaned upon he can add more offensively to this Clippers’ team.