The Boston Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 146-115 on Saturday, January 3, 2026, snapping the Clippers' six-game winning streak. The Celtics' victory was led by a career high-tying 50 points from Jaylen Brown. The Celtics' high-scoring performance was fueled by exceptional shooting, with the team matching their season high in points and shooting 55.2% from the field and 47.1% from beyond the arc. Jaylen Brown was particularly efficient, making 18 of 26 field goal attempts.The Clippers, despite good performances from Kawhi Leonard and John Collins, who each scored 22 points, were unable to keep pace, especially in the fourth quarter where they were outscored 33-16. Ivica Zubac returned from injury for the Clippers but was limited to just 4 points in 21 minutes.On Saturday night, January 3, 2026, the Boston Celtics delivered a resounding statement victory, crushing the Los Angeles Clippers 146-115 at the Intuit Dome. The defining narrative of the night was the incandescent performance of All-Star wing Jaylen Brown, who matched his career high with an emphatic 50 points, single-handedly dismantling the Clippers' defense and snapping their season-best six-game winning streak.The win, which capped a successful 4-1 road trip for Boston, was a showcase of offensive prowess and defensive tenacity, especially for Brown, who had publicly voiced his motivation after being overlooked for the Eastern Conference Player of the Month award in December.Game Summary: A One-Sided AffairThe game was effectively over by the end of the first quarter, with the Celtics exploding for 42 points and never looking back. They led for an astonishing 99% of the game, at one point building a lead as large as 33 points. Boston's efficiency was staggering, shooting 55.2% from the field and tying a season high with 24 made three-pointers.Derrick White provided excellent support with 29 points and 7 assists, while reserve forward Jordan Walsh contributed a double-double off the bench with 13 points and a career-high 13 rebounds.For the Clippers, the night was a stark contrast to their recent run of success. Despite shooting 50% from the field as a team, they were simply overwhelmed by Boston's offensive onslaught. Kawhi Leonard and John Collins each scored 22 points, but Leonard was held in check by Brown's focused defense, shooting just 6-for-17 from the field.
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Jaylen Brown's Statement Performance Brown's motivation was palpable from the tip-off. He started the game defending Leonard and set the tone with an aggressive, highly efficient night. His 50 points came on a blistering 18-of-26 shooting (6-of-10 from three-point range) in just over 35 minutes of action.Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla acknowledged Brown's pre-game text message requesting the defensive assignment on Leonard, highlighting his star's competitive fire."I believe I'm the best two-way player in the world," Brown stated after the game, a sentiment he reiterated on social media earlier in the week. On Saturday, he made a compelling case for that claim. As the fourth quarter wound down, with the crowd chanting "MVP," Brown hit a floater to reach the half-century mark, joining Jayson Tatum and Larry Bird as the only players in Celtics history with multiple 50-point games.Key TakeawaysThe Celtics head back to Boston with momentum, consolidating their position near the top of the Eastern Conference standings. Their next game is Monday against the Chicago Bulls at home.The Clippers, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly from this deflating loss as they prepare to host the Golden State Warriors on Monday night. The game exposed defensive vulnerabilities that coach Tyronn Lue will have to address, as Boston's pace and perimeter shooting proved an insurmountable challenge.
GAMETIME HIGHLIGHTS
