Rowan Kavner
BOSTON – After coaching there for nine seasons, stepping on the court in Boston will always hold meaning to Clippers head coach Doc Rivers.
Rivers returned as an opposing coach last season, but as the Clippers (48-25) get set for Sunday’s game against the Celtics (32-40), Rivers said it’s always special returning.
“I spend a couple weeks in the summer there, so it’s not like I don’t go back, but it is still nice,” Rivers said. “Whenever you go back, you walk in the building, it’s just going to always be nice.”
Tipoff: 3:00PM PT
Rivers said after going back last year, now he can just go out and coach and his team can play without thinking about the return as much.
“But it’s still really nice,” Rivers said. “The fans are phenomenal and they’re playing well. It’ll be a hell of a game.”
The Clippers have won six straight games entering the matchup, while the Celtics have come back from a three-game losing streak by winning two of their last three games. Both Chris Paul and Matt Barnes said the Clippers’ biggest focus has to be on defense through the end of the regular season.
“We talk about it all the time, that’s what we’re trying to do is just get more consistent, trying to find the plays we like and most of all trying to be consistent on the defensive end,” Paul said.
LAST TIME OUT
Clippers 119, 76ers 98 – The Clippers clinched a playoff spot by running away with the victory in Philadelphia, outscoring the 76ers by 18 points in the third quarter to allow the starters to sit in the fourth for the second straight game of the road trip. In three quarters, Chris Paul had 25 points and seven assists and DeAndre Jordan had 17 points and 20 rebounds.
Celtics 96, Knicks 92 – Andrea Bargnani kept the Knicks within striking distance all game with 25 points, but the Celtics maintained their eighth spot in the East. Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder combined for 35 points off the bench. The Celtics were active at the line, allowing them to win despite going 4-for-20 from 3-point range, committing 16 turnovers and getting outscored by 14 points in the paint.
NOTEWORTHY MATCHUP
Blake Griffin vs. Brandon Bass – The two power forwards were each team’s respective high scorer in the first matchup this season between these teams, a 102-93 win for the Clippers. Griffin had 22 points, while Bass finished with 17. Bass was coming off the bench at that point, but he’s been starting for Boston recently and playing well. The Celtics allow the fifth most points in the paint per game this season, which Griffin and DeAndre Jordan should take advantage of.
TWO THINGS TO WATCH
Sharing the Ball – The Clippers and Celtics are both in the top five in the league in assists per game and assist percentage. Both teams had at least 24 assists in the first matchup. The Clippers haven’t needed to share the ball to make shots on the road trip so far, but that could change in Boston. The Celtics have at least 23 assists in four of their last five games.
Bench Scoring – The last time these teams played, four of the five Celtics bench players who got in the game scored in double figures. Two of those players, Bass and Marcus Smart, have started recently. But the Celtics didn’t even have Isaiah Thomas at that point, and he’s been a spark off the bench. The Clippers had Jamal Crawford score 16 points in that first game, but he won’t be available. However, Austin Rivers has scored at least 13 points in each of his last two games. This will be a major test for the Clippers’ reserves against some backups capable of scoring in Boston.
NOTES: The Clippers could go undefeated on the three-game road trip with a win Sunday … The Clippers got Austin Rivers in three-team trade involving Boston earlier this season … Glen Davis played in Boston for four seasons for Doc Rivers … The Clippers haven’t lost on the road this season when allowing fewer than 100 points … The Clippers are in the top five in the league in 3-point percentage, while the Celtics are in the bottom five … Jordan’s averaging 17.6 rebounds per game in March and averaged 17.2 per game in February …