The Celtics thump the Clippers handily because to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Jayson Tatum scored 30 points, Jaylen Brown added 24 and the Boston Celtics kicked off their Christmas weekend in Southern California with a 145-108 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.
Jrue Holiday had 20 points and seven assists as the Celtics went 25 of 53 from 3-point range (47.2%) to win for the seventh time in eight games and for the 10th time in 12 games.
Boston shot 52.1% overall in the same arena where it will play a Christmas Day rivalry showdown against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Paul George scored 21 points and James Harden added 14 points and 10 assists as the Clippers were without Kawhi Leonard for a second consecutive game due to a left hip contusion.
Ivica Zubac had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers, who were playing the first of four straight home games.
The Celtics held a 28-21 lead after one quarter, while setting the tone for the game with 18 attempts from 3-point range and making six.
Throughout the second quarter, Boston’s shooting improved. The Celtics led 68-51 at the half after making 9 of 15 (60%) long-range shots.
Tatum avoided an injury scare in the second quarter and finished off a four-point play in the process when he made a 3-pointer with 4:19 remaining in the first half before rolling his left ankle when he stepped on the foot of Kobe Brown.