The Celtics close their road trip with a surprising heavyweight test in Los Angeles, where the Clippers enter riding a six-game winning streak and playing their best basketball of the season. With Kawhi Leonard and Jaylen Brown in a scoring groove, Ivica Zubac returning to the lineup, and Derrick White set to see plenty of James Harden, this matchup offers a useful challenge for Boston against a team that’s quickly finding its rhythm.
Who Wins the Jaylen Brown vs. Kawhi Leonard Battle?
At the moment, there may not be a more intriguing wing matchup in the league than Jaylen Brown vs. Kawhi Leonard.
Both players have entered a flow state, carrying their teams with elite three-level scoring. Their overlap is obvious: strength on the ball, comfort creating from anywhere on the floor, and the ability to dictate possessions when the game slows down.
Kawhi enters the night averaging an outrageous 39 points per game during the Clippers’ six-game winning streak. Brown, meanwhile, is coming off a December in which he poured in 31.7 points per night, shouldering an enormous offensive load for Boston.
They’ll see each other at times, but this isn’t a one-on-one issue for the Celtics. Boston has multiple bodies it can throw at Kawhi—Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez, and Josh Minott among them—with the goal of buying Brown the freedom to pick his spots offensively without being overworked.
If those young wings can offer even momentary resistance, Boston’s gap help and early stunts can provide support behind them. That’s where the Celtics have lived defensively all season, and it’s the clearest path to forcing Kawhi into tougher decisions. They can’t afford to let him pick his matchups and operate in open space.
The idea is to hound Kawhi with Walsh and Gonzalez for 40 minutes, then force him to navigate constant screening on the other end. If this comes down to closing time, having the fresher of the two scorers is an advantage. The Clippers will try to find different options like Derrick Jones Jr. and Kris Dunn, but Kawhi may be forced to take the Jaylen assignment.
While this matchup defines the wings, the battle in the paint could also shift how the game unfolds.
How Does Ivica Zubac’s Return Change the Clippers’ Formula?
Surprisingly, the Clippers have been surging in the absence of Ivica Zubac, who was injured during the first game of their winning streak. Zubac was originally supposed to be re-evaluated after three weeks, but just two weeks later he’s making his return against the Celtics.
On the season, he’s averaging 15.6 points and 11.1 rebounds per game and gives the Clippers a reliable paint presence on either end. With Zubac out, Brook Lopez and rookie Yanic Konan Niederhäuser stepped into larger roles.
Lopez launched over seven 3-pointers per game in that stretch and gives the Clippers the ability to explore more 5-out looks. This affords Kawhi and James Harden significantly more space to attack in isolation. Niederhäuser has given them an explosive athlete that plays above the rim and provides an alternative to Zubac and Lopez’s deeper drop coverage.
Inserting Zubac back into the starting lineup is obviously a no-brainer, but it does bring a shift to what has worked for the Clippers. With Harden, Kawhi and Zubac on the floor this season, the Clippers have a -0.6 Net Rating. With Lopez instead, it jumps to +16.2.
On the earlier side of his recovery timeline, Boston can test Zubac’s ability to defend in space by putting him in the action consistently. Neemias Queta has generally fared well in this matchup. Luka Garza has regained a spot in the lineup, and his work as a screener in the pick and roll can be useful here as well.
When Lopez checks in, it might be worth shifting back toward small-ball options to stay switch-ready, limiting the success they’ve found with his floor spacing.
The key for Boston is making Zubac a target of their hunt, and turning the lineup change into an advantage.
Can Derrick White Limit James Harden’s Impact?
With the team’s slow start and Kawhi missing an extended stretch of time, James Harden took command of the offense. In the last matchup between these teams, he kept the Clippers in it until the end with 32 second half points.
Derrick White has moved past his early-season struggles and offers Boston a versatile counter. His ability to navigate screens and play in the rearview take some of Harden’s favorite options off the table.
Harden’s counters are well established. If White goes over the screen, Harden will look to get downhill. If White goes under, he’ll stop for a pull-up. If Boston switches, he’ll probe until he finds a mismatch or forces a second defender to show. That puts pressure on Boston’s help, and requires White—and any other Celtic with the matchup—to stay disciplined. Especially if Zubac is rolling with shooters spaced in the corners. White doesn’t need to shut Harden down, but if his scoring is limited, it adds even more pressure to Kawhi to continue his torrid scoring stretch.
This is where Boston’s team defense comes into play. White’s strength in steering ball-handlers toward help can angle Harden into crowds, giving himself time to recover. Boston will live with contested floaters and late-clock pull-ups. The goal is to keep Harden from getting downhill unbothered with momentum. This is where his passing becomes a threat.
Offensively, White’s impact could swing this matchup just as much. Considering he’s shooting just 6-27 (22%) from 3 over the last three games, he should be due for a big scoring night. His willingness to relocate, screen, and re-enter actions forces defenses to stay locked in. If Harden is tasked with chasing him, it drains energy that would otherwise go into late-game shot creation. A couple early makes could force the Clippers to adjust their coverage and loosen the attention paid to Jaylen Brown.
This matchup may wind up just as important as the Brown vs. Kawhi battle. Both teams will try to slow down the top scorers, leaving room for the next options to step in.
