The Boston Celtics (21-12) take on the Los Angeles Clippers (12-21) in an inter-conference clash at the Intuit Dome, where the defending champions look to rebound from a mixed recent stretch against a Clippers team mired in a rebuilding year plagued by injuries and inconsistencies. Boston, third in the Eastern Conference, boasts the league’s second-best net rating (+8.5) and a top-5 offense (118.2 PPG), led by Jayson Tatum’s scoring and Jaylen Brown’s versatility. The Clippers, 13th in the Western Conference, are struggling with the league’s 28th-ranked defense (116.5 PPG allowed) and a bottom-10 offense, relying on Kawhi Leonard’s return to form and young pieces like Bones Hyland to compete. This matchup could hinge on Boston’s perimeter shooting against LA’s zone defenses, with the Celtics’ depth potentially overwhelming a thin Clippers roster in a game projected to be lopsided but with upset potential if Leonard and Harden explode.
Venue Location
Intuit Dome, located in Inglewood, California (part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area). This state-of-the-art arena has a capacity of approximately 18,000 for basketball and is the new home of the Los Angeles Clippers, known for its advanced fan experience and technology.
Tipoff is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. PT).
Injury Report
Boston Celtics: SF Jayson Tatum is out with a torn right Achilles tendon (estimated return April 1, 2026). SG Ron Harper Jr. is day-to-day with a right knee sprain. The team has managed depth well, but Tatum’s absence is a major blow to scoring and leadership.
Los Angeles Clippers: C Ivica Zubac is day-to-day with a left ankle injury. PG Chris Paul is day-to-day with an undisclosed issue. SG Bradley Beal is out for the season with a hip fracture (estimated return October 1, 2026). SG Bogdan Bogdanovic is day-to-day with left hamstring injury management. The Clippers’ frontcourt is thin, putting extra pressure on Leonard and Harden.
Key Player Matchups
This game pits Boston’s veteran depth against LA’s star duo, with perimeter defense and interior battles likely to define the outcome.
Jaylen Brown (BOS, SF) vs. Kawhi Leonard (LAC, SF): Brown’s athleticism and scoring (25.8 PPG) meet Leonard’s two-way excellence (22.5 PPG, 1.8 SPG), key for wing defense and transition scoring.
Kristaps Porziņģis (BOS, PF/C) vs. Ivica Zubac (LAC, C): Porziņģis’ stretch shooting (19.5 PPG, 36% 3PT) faces Zubac’s rim protection (10.2 RPG), potentially opening the floor for Boston if Zubac is limited by his ankle.
Jrue Holiday (BOS, PG) vs. James Harden (LAC, PG): Holiday’s elite defense (1.5 SPG) will challenge Harden’s playmaking (9.2 APG), crucial for controlling tempo and pick-and-roll execution.
Derrick White (BOS, SG) vs. Norman Powell (LAC, SG): White’s all-around game (16.5 PPG, 4.5 APG) vs. Powell’s scoring bursts (18.0 PPG), impacting secondary units and three-point contests.
Recent Team Forms
Boston Celtics: The Celtics are 4-1 in their last five games, with strong offensive outbursts. Recent results: W120-106 vs SAC (Jan 1); W129-119
@UTA (Dec 30); L114-108
@POR (Dec 28); W140-122
@IND (Dec 26); W103-95
vs IND (Dec 22).
They’ve outscored opponents by +12.4 PPG in wins, led by Brown’s scoring and team 3PT shooting (38%).
Los Angeles Clippers: The Clippers are 4-1 in their last five, showing home resilience. Recent results: W118-101 vs UTA (Jan 1); W131-90 vs SAC (Dec 30); W112-99 vs DET (Dec 28); W119-103
@POR (Dec 26); W128-108 vs HOU (Dec 23). Outscored opponents by +18.6 PPG in wins, but injuries have capped their ceiling.
Series History
The Boston Celtics lead the all-time regular-season series 96-47 against the Los Angeles Clippers in 143 meetings. Boston has won 6 of the last 10 games, including a 96-115 victory on January 27, 2024. The Clippers are 21-75 at home against the Celtics, with games often featuring high scoring (over hitting in 5 of the last 8, average 221 points). Boston has covered the spread in 5 of the last 7 as favorites in the series.
Betting Trends
Boston is 13-4 ATS in their last 17 games and 9-2 ATS in their last 11 road games, but 2-7 ATS in their last 9 vs. the Clippers. The over has hit in 4 of Boston’s last 5 road games vs. LA and 5 of their last 7 vs. Western Conference teams. LA is 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games and 5-0 ATS in their last 5 home games, but 1-4 SU in their last 5 overall. The under has hit in 10 of LA’s last 15 games and 4 of the last 5 vs. Boston. Head-to-head, the under has hit in 6 of the last 10 (average 211 points), but favorites have covered 60% in the series.
Game Odds
Boston Celtics 220.5
Los Angeles Clippers – 1.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, January 2, 2026
