Saturday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, was the stage for a high-octane NBA showdown between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Clippers—a matchup that had fans buzzing long before tip-off. Both teams entered the contest riding impressive streaks: the Celtics, with a 21-12 record, had won six of their last seven games, while the Clippers were surging on a six-game winning run of their own, bringing their record to 12-21. With both squads hoping to keep their 2026 records unblemished, anticipation was sky-high.
The Celtics, fresh off a commanding 120-106 victory over the Sacramento Kings on New Year’s Day, looked to carry their momentum into Inglewood. Jaylen Brown, who had notched 29 points and 10 rebounds in that Sacramento win, was again at the center of attention. Meanwhile, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard had chipped in a combined 32 points and 13 assists, showing the kind of depth and versatility that’s become a hallmark of this Boston team.
On the other side, the Clippers were enjoying a resurgence, largely fueled by the spectacular play of Kawhi Leonard. Leonard had been on a tear, averaging 39 points during the Clippers’ win streak, including a jaw-dropping 55-point outburst on December 28 and a 45-point masterpiece just days before against the Utah Jazz. James Harden was also making his presence felt, averaging 25.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game this season—numbers that slightly exceeded the prop bets set for him ahead of Saturday’s game.
As tip-off approached, fans tuned in across NBC Sports Boston, NBA TV, and FanDuel Sports Network SoCal, with many taking advantage of streaming deals and free trials from DIRECTV and FuboTV. The buzz wasn’t just about the teams’ records or recent play; it was also about the individual matchups and the tantalizing player prop bets. Harden’s over/under for points was set at 24.5, rebounds at 4.5, assists at 7.5, and made three-pointers at 3.5. For Leonard, the prop lines mirrored his season averages: 28.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 made threes. On the Celtics’ side, Jaylen Brown’s props loomed large—28.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 made threes—while Derrick White’s lines were 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 3.5 threes.
But no amount of betting insight could have fully prepared fans for the show Jaylen Brown was about to put on. From the opening quarter, Brown was locked in, attacking the rim with ferocity, finding his spots from deep, and finishing through contact. The Clippers, who had been so stout defensively during their win streak, simply had no answer. By halftime, Brown had already piled up a significant chunk of his points, and the Celtics had built a commanding lead.
Brown’s performance was nothing short of dazzling. He finished the night with a staggering 50 points, electrifying the Intuit Dome and silencing the home crowd. According to ESPN, “Brown dazzles with 50 points in Celtics’ blowout of Clippers.” It was the kind of offensive explosion that instantly enters the annals of Celtics history, and it came against a Clippers team that had been playing its best basketball of the season.
Boston’s offensive execution was clinical. The team shot 55% from the field and an eye-popping 47% from beyond the arc, connecting on 24 of 51 three-point attempts. At the free-throw line, they were solid as well, knocking down 16 of 19 for 84%. The Celtics’ ball security was another key factor—they committed just six turnovers all game, compared to the Clippers’ ten. On the glass, Boston dominated, outrebounding Los Angeles 46 to 30, which created second-chance opportunities and limited the Clippers’ transition game.
The Clippers, for their part, put up a respectable fight on offense, shooting 50% from the field and 39% from three-point range. Their free-throw shooting was nearly perfect, hitting 16 of 17 for 94%. But it wasn’t enough to keep pace with Boston’s relentless attack and Brown’s historic night. The Celtics led for an astounding 99% of the game, at one point building a lead as large as 33 points. The Clippers never held an advantage, and the gap only widened as the second half wore on.
It wasn’t just Brown who shined for Boston. Derrick White, whose season averages hovered just below his prop bets—18.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 3.2 made threes—provided steady support, while the bench contributed valuable minutes and energy. Boston’s depth, which had been a strength all season, was on full display, with players like Payton Pritchard and Neemias Queta continuing to make positive impacts.
For the Clippers, James Harden and Kawhi Leonard tried to keep things close. Harden’s final stat line closely mirrored his season averages, but he was unable to ignite the kind of scoring run needed to close the gap. Leonard, despite his recent heroics, couldn’t replicate his 55- or 45-point performances from the previous week. The supporting cast, including Derrick Jones Jr., Kobe Sanders, John Collins, and Yanic Konan Niederhauser, battled hard on the boards and chipped in offensively, but the Celtics’ firepower was simply overwhelming.
This game was also a rematch of their November meeting, when Boston edged out the Clippers 121-118 behind 33 points from Brown. This time, however, the Celtics left no doubt, cruising to a 146-115 victory—a margin that underscores just how dominant they were on both ends of the floor.
With the win, the Celtics extended their streak to three straight and further solidified their status as one of the NBA’s elite teams as 2026 gets underway. For the Clippers, the loss snaps their six-game winning run, but with Leonard and Harden leading the way, there’s little doubt they’ll remain a threat in the Western Conference.
As the final buzzer sounded in Inglewood, it was clear that Jaylen Brown’s 50-point masterpiece had stolen the show. The Celtics’ blend of star power, depth, and discipline has them looking like serious contenders—and after a night like this, fans across the league will be watching closely to see what they do next.