Los Angeles Clippers vs Boston Celtics 3/2/21: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Boston Celtics Matchup Preview

The Celtics come into tonight in a little bit of a slide but have rebounded with back-to-back wins. They will have a tough task ahead of them, facing the Clippers who are third in the west with a 24-12 record. Both of these teams are very similar, as they have a strong duo but the drop-off is immense after that. Los Angeles isn’t sure what they will get out of their secondary options each night and the same can be said for Boston. Tonight’s game is the first of a TNT doubleheader and the Clippers are slight favorites in this one. For odds movement and full matchup history, visit the Los Angeles Clippers At Boston Celtics Matchup Page.

TV Schedule

Date: 3/2/21
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Arena: TD Garden – Boston, MA
Channel: TNT

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Clippers Starting 5

PG: Patrick Beverley
SG: Paul George
SF: Kawhi Leonard
PF: Nicolas Batum
C: Serge Ibaka

Clippers Analysis

The Clippers are getting healthy after a stretch where they were missing a few players. They are at full strength tonight and are 6-4 in the last ten games. The four losses came against tougher teams, with Milwaukee, Utah, and Brooklyn being three of the four. It does raise the question of whether they are in that championship tier or not. Los Angeles has shot very well over the last ten games as a team, shooting 49% from the field and 40% from three. However, the defense has been a little shaky of late allowing 111 points per game. Los Angeles has dominated Eastern Conference teams winning 10 of 15 games, averaging 119 points per game this season. Paul George and Kawhi Leonard continue to do the heavy lifting, averaging 20+ points per game this season but nobody else on the team has averaged more than 13 points per game.

Celtics Starting 5

PG: Kemba Walker
SG: Jaylen Brown
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Daniel Theis
C: Tristan Thompson

Celtics Analysis

The Celtics have won just four of their last ten games and are averaging 110 points per game in that span while allowing 112 per game. They’ve struggled from three at 31%, which isn’t a shocker given this team isn’t built to dominate in that department, but it continues to be a concern. Boston has struggled to close out games and the Dallas and New Orleans losses within the last ten were disappointing as well. Defensively they have also allowed 120+ points in both meetings against Atlanta where they lost. Jaylen Brown is good to go tonight after being questionable with a minor knee injury. Tatum and Brown are averaging 25 apiece while Kemba Walker has been very sporadic this season averaging 18 per game but on 39% shooting and 31% from three. This Boston side has struggled against the west this season, going 4-10.

Clippers & Celtics DFS Angle

Boston and Los Angeles sit amongst a six-game slate and out of these games I wouldn’t say I am jumping to get exposure to it. The total is at 220 but there are two over 235 and this is also two teams where the usage is sucked up between four total players at positions where there are better spots. Paul George and Jaylen brown are similar in price and George projects slightly better tonight. Tatum and Kawhi are neck-in-neck in projections. Kemba is in a range where I rather target names like Dejounte Murray and Chris Paul. That seemingly is the case with most of the DFS plays in this game, there are better options in a similar

Clippers vs. Celtics Betting Odds

Clippers Spread: -4.5
Clippers Moneyline: -183
Celtics Spread: +4.5
Celtics Moneyline: +151
Over/Under Points Total: 220

Both of these teams are oddly similar where they struggle down the stretch whether they are ahead or behind. Los Angeles has been slightly better against the spread at 20-16, where Boston is 16-18. Over the last three meetings, the Celtics have covered all three and the over has been 2-1. These have been high-scoring and close games with an averaging score of 121-118, tipping towards the Celtics. A lot of Boston’s ability to cover falls onto the shoulders of Kemba Walker and the rest of the team. We know what we are going to get from Tatum and Brown night in and night out but the rest of the group is a mystery. The Clippers are the same way with Leonard/George. Both teams have averaged a collective 224 points per game this season and offensively I like the over here more than choosing a side.