Clippers’ streak ends in a 31-point loss to Celtics

CLIPPERS

Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, who scored 22 points, attacks the rim, which is being defended by Boston center Neemias Queta in the first half. Mark J. Terrill / AP

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By Janis Carr

Correspondent

INGLEWOOD — A victory against another top team would have put an exclamation point on the league’s longest current winning streak. Instead, the Boston Celtics threw a large heap of reality on the Clippers’ feel-good run in a 146-115 defeat on Saturday.

The 31-point loss in front of a packed Intuit Dome ended a six-game winning streak that began 15 days ago.

The Clippers gave themselves several chances, cutting the lead to single digits at various points, but each time the Celtics came back with big shots or forced turnovers.

The Celtics shot 55.2% (53 of 96) from the field and connected on 24 of 51 3-pointers (47.1%) much to the delight of the predominant Boston crowd.

Boston’s attack was led by its two-pronged scoring duo of Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, who torched the Clippers for a combined 79 points. Brown, an NBA Finals MVP and four-time All-Star, led Boston with 50 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists, and White added 29 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists.

The Celtics strategy seemed to be: take care of the ball, shoot 3-pointers and get out of Brown’s way. He rolled through the Clippers for 19 points on 7 of 7 from the field and 3 of 3 from 3-point range in the third quarter alone en route to his first 50-point game of the season.

If the lopsided loss or the green-clad fans weren’t bad enough, forward Derrick Jones Jr. limped off the court with 9:25 left in the game after colliding with Pritchard at midcourt. The two were chasing a loose ball when Pritchard fell on Jones’ right leg, the same leg that caused him to miss a month.

The loss spoiled the return of center Ivica Zubac, who was back in uniform for the first time in two weeks due to an ankle injury.

While he appeared to move well, Zubac was not in the starting lineup. Lue said Zubac asked to come off the bench in his first game back, but Lue stressed that the move wasn’t permanent.

“He’s our starter, but we got a good flow going, which we haven’t had all season long,” Lue said. “Just to win six games in a row, guys feeling good about themselves. And then have a guy like Zu coming back who’s been a starter since I’ve been here, sacrifice and say, ‘Listen, I know we got a good thing going. I’m willing to come off the bench and let’s ride it out from here.’ ”

Zubac suffered a Grade 2 sprained ankle during the first quarter of the Clippers’ victory against the Lakers on Dec. 20 and was expected to miss three weeks. But the 7-footer missed only five games — all during the Clippers’ winning streak.

Zubac said he went hard in rehab to make a quicker return. He had progressed to on-court activities last Thursday and the team announced he would be back soon.