Celtics vs Clippers Prediction

Los Angeles Clippers (17-10) vs Boston Celtics (21-6)

Game Info: Saturday, December 23, 2023 at 3:30 pm (Crypto.com Arena)

Betting Odds: Los Angeles Clippers +1.5 -- Over/Under:

The Los Angeles Clippers play host to the Boston Celtics at the Crypto.com Arena on Saturday night. Here’s a Clippers vs Celtics Prediction.

Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics have been in red-hot form as they’ve won nine of their last 11 games overall and they will be eager to stay hot after routing the Kings in a 144-119 road win on Wednesday. Derrick White led the team with 28 points and seven assists on 10 of 13 shooting, Jaylen Brown added 28 points with six assists, Kristaps Porzingis scored 24 points with nine rebounds and six blocks while Jrue Holiday chipped in with 21 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists. As a team, the Celtics shot 55 percent from the field and a sizzling 22 of 42 from the 3-point line as they weathered a 41-point first quarter from the Kings, before they dominated the second and third quarters by a combined 75-49 to win big without the injured Jayson Tatum in the lineup. It was a real team effort in this one as the Celtics had a total of five players score at least 20 points in a rare feat.

Boston Celtics Player Facts

• Jaylen Brown ranks 11th in the Eastern Conference amongst qualified players for points per game (22.7) this season.

Los Angeles Clippers

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers were riding a season-high nine game win streak before they got stopped in their tracks by the Thunder in a 134-115 road loss on Thursday. With Kawhi Leonard rested for the game, James Harden led the team with 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists, Paul George returned to finish with 22 points on seven of 14 shooting while Norman Powell chipped in with 16 points off the bench. As a team, the Clippers shot 47 percent from the field and 17 of 43 from the 3-point line, but they were playing their second game of a back to back set and it showed as they allowed 35 points in the first quarter to fall behind early, before allowing 45 points in the third quarter to lose big in the end.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Clippers rank 4th in the league for steals per game this season (8.4).
• The Clippers rank 4th in the league for three-point percentage this season (38.2%).
• The Celtics rank 1st in the league for opponent blocks per game this season (3.9).
• The Celtics rank 1st in the league for opponent free throw percentage this season (72.7%).

Clippers vs Celtics Prediction

The Celtics are shorthanded again with Kristaps Porzingis already ruled out and Jayson Tatum listed as questionable, while the Clippers are keeping an eye on Kawhi Leonard who is questionable for this one. The Celtics were good enough to smash the Kings despite being shorthanded, but they could be missing two key starters in this one, so I’d rather go with the Clippers as the slight underdog at home where they are 11-3 on the season so far.

The pick in this article is the opinion of the writer, not a PickDawgz site consensus.