It happened fast. One minute the Intuit Dome was buzzing with the energy of a six-game winning streak, and the next, Jaylen Brown was turning the lights out. If you caught the Clippers vs Celtics game on January 3, 2026, you saw something rare. It wasn't just a win. It was a 146-115 demolition that felt like a shift in the NBA power structure.
Brown tied his career high with 50 points. Fifty. He didn't just score; he dismantled every coverage Ty Lue threw at him. Honestly, the Clippers looked shell-shocked by the end of the third quarter. When a guy is shooting 18-of-26 from the floor and 6-of-10 from deep, there isn't a "scheme" in the world that saves you.
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The Jaylen Brown Takeover and the Jayson Tatum Void
Most people thought the Celtics would stumble this winter. Losing Jayson Tatum to an Achilles injury back in October was supposed to be the death knell for their repeat hopes. It hasn't been. In fact, Jaylen Brown has basically used the last few months to prove he's a legitimate number one option on a championship-caliber team.
Against the Clippers, he was relentless. He scored 19 points in the third quarter alone. Think about that. Most players are happy with 19 in a game. Brown did it in twelve minutes while being guarded by some of the most versatile wings in the league.
What went wrong for LA?
The Clippers came into this matchup hot. They had won six straight and finally had Ivica Zubac back from a sprained ankle. But the defense, which had been top-tier during that streak, completely evaporated.
- Derrick White was a nightmare, chipping in 29 points and 7 assists.
- The Celtics shot 55.2% as a team.
- Boston outscored LA 27-10 on points off turnovers.
It’s kinda wild to see a veteran team like the Clippers get outworked like that at home. James Harden had his usual double-double with 18 points and 12 assists, and Kawhi Leonard put up a quiet 22, but they never felt like they were in control. The energy was just... off. Maybe it was the tail end of a long stretch, or maybe Boston is just that much better right now, even shorthanded.
Why the Clippers vs Celtics Rivalry Hits Different in 2026
We’ve seen these teams go at it for years, but the 2025-26 season has added some weird layers. For one, the Clippers are finally "home" at the Intuit Dome, leaving the Crypto.com Arena shadow behind. But even with the best sightlines in sports, they couldn't find the basket in the fourth quarter, where they were outscored 33-16.
The history here is lopsided lately. Boston has won five of the last six meetings over the past three seasons. They have this knack for finding the Clippers' pressure points. Earlier this season, on November 16, they edged out a 121-118 win in Boston. In that game, Harden almost stole it with 37 points, but the Celtics' depth—specifically Payton Pritchard hitting eight threes—saved them.
The injury factor
You can't talk about Clippers vs Celtics without talking about the training room. It’s been a revolving door.
- Jayson Tatum: Still out. The Celtics haven't officially ruled him out for the season, but an Achilles is no joke.
- Bradley Beal: Done for the year after hip surgery. That’s a massive scoring hole for LA that John Collins is trying to fill.
- Derrick Jones Jr.: Left the January 3rd game with a knee injury, later confirmed as a Grade 2 MCL sprain.
It sucks. You want to see these rosters at 100%, but that’s rarely the reality in the modern NBA. The fact that Boston is 22-12 despite these hits says a lot about Joe Mazzulla’s system. They just keep plugging in guys like Anfernee Simons and Neemias Queta, and the machine keeps rolling.
Breaking Down the "How" Behind the 146-115 Scoreboard
If you look at the box score, the rebounding stands out immediately. Boston grabbed 46 boards to LA's 30. You aren't winning many games when you're -16 on the glass. John Collins was efficient, going 9-of-10 for 22 points, but he couldn't keep Queta or Luke Kornet off the offensive glass.
The Clippers' bench, usually a strength, was a non-factor. While Boston's secondary units were pushing the lead to 30+, the Clippers' reserves were struggling to find a rhythm. It’s sort of become a pattern—when Harden or Kawhi isn't a supernova, the offense gets stagnant.
Actionable Insights for the Next Matchup
If you're following these two teams into the back half of the season, there are a few things you should actually watch for rather than just checking the final score.
- Monitor the Wing Rotation: With Derrick Jones Jr. sidelined for the next several weeks, watch how Ty Lue uses Nicolas Batum and Terance Mann. They need defensive stops to fuel their transition game, and right now, they're missing that "stopper" energy.
- Jaylen Brown’s Usage: Brown is currently playing at an MVP level. If he continues to see this many touches, his efficiency might dip, but his total output is making him the betting favorite for Eastern Conference honors.
- The Intuit Dome Factor: The Clippers are 12-22 overall but have struggled to make their new home a true fortress. Watch their upcoming home stand to see if they can rebuild the defensive identity they had during their December winning streak.
- Celtics’ Road Resilience: Boston just finished a 4-1 West Coast trip. That kind of success on the road usually translates to a dominant late-season run. Keep an eye on their defensive rating, which has actually improved since Tatum went down as they've leaned into a more "grind-it-out" style—until the Clippers game where they just decided to explode.
The next time these two meet, don't expect another 31-point blowout. The Clippers are too proud for that, and the law of averages suggests Jaylen Brown won't hit every contested fadeaway he takes. But for now, the Celtics have the mental edge in this matchup.
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To stay ahead of the curve on this rivalry, track the re-evaluation timeline for Derrick Jones Jr. and keep a close ear on the Celtics' internal messaging regarding Tatum's potential return for the playoffs. Both will dictate the ceiling for these teams come April.