The Boston Celtics have struggled to hold onto fourth-quarter leads this season, having blown such leads in four of their seven losses. On Sunday, James Harden nearly added to that list as he led a furious comeback attempt for the visiting Los Angeles Clippers.
Harden scored 18 of his 37 points in the final five minutes, including nine in the last 22 seconds of regulation, as the Clippers cut a 24-point Boston lead down to just one. However, the former NBA MVP’s potential game-tying 3-pointer rattled off the rim at the buzzer, allowing the Celtics to escape with a 121-118 victory at TD Garden.
Jaylen Brown spearheaded the Celtics’ effort, posting his first double-double of the season with 33 points and 13 rebounds. Payton Pritchard contributed a season-high 30 points on efficient 10-of-16 shooting, draining 8-of-13 from beyond the arc. Derrick White also provided critical offensive firepower, hitting four of his eight three-pointers and finishing with 22 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds as Boston weathered Harden’s late surge.
The Clippers, now 4-8, have been one of the Western Conference’s biggest disappointments in 2023-24. They needed double overtime to snap a six-game losing streak just two days prior in Dallas. Head coach Tyronn Lue’s squad played without six-time All-Star Kawhi Leonard and lost starter Derrick Jones Jr. to a knee injury in the second quarter against the Celtics.
Looking ahead, Boston will face another struggling team when they visit the 1-11 Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday.
### Sharp Shooting Lifts Celtics Early
After a slow start to the season from beyond the arc, Payton Pritchard found his range early versus Los Angeles. Pritchard made four or more three-pointers in the first quarter alone, starting 4-for-5 from deep and helping the Celtics build a comfortable double-digit lead. Derrick White also caught fire, converting his first three triples of the game.
Both guards have overcome inconsistent shooting over the season’s first three weeks, combining to go 20-of-37 (54.0%) from deep over Boston’s last two games. This shooting helped Boston gain significant momentum early on.
### Brown’s Midrange Mastery
Jaylen Brown’s scoring came primarily around the rim in the first half, including a pair of and-one layups in transition. But he also excelled in the midrange area, adding jumper after jumper to extend Boston’s lead to 63-49 at halftime.
While many teams have shifted away from midrange shooting in recent years—favoring either high-percentage shots at the rim or beyond the arc—Brown has made these shots a key weapon this season. He currently leads the NBA in midrange baskets made per game and shoots an impressive 53.2% on midrange field goals and 62.1% on shots from 15 to 19 feet. No player has made more shots from either distance this season, making Brown the focal point of the Celtics’ offense in the absence of injured co-star Jayson Tatum.
### Clippers’ Late Rally Falls Short
Boston seemed in command early in the second half as Pritchard knocked down four more three-pointers in the opening four minutes. The lead reached 22 points before the Clippers mounted a 15-2 run, cutting the deficit to 11.
Harden, who had been held in check by Celtics defenders Jordan Walsh and Baylor Scheierman in the first half, exploded with 14 third-quarter points. The Clippers also capitalized on offensive rebounds, with second-chance points making up a third of their 36 third-quarter points.
Entering the final period, the Clippers trailed 90-85. Free throws from Bogdan Bogdanovic brought the score within three early in the fourth, but Boston quickly responded. Jaylen Brown sparked a crucial sequence by stealing a pass, grabbing an offensive rebound to assist Neemias Queta for a layup, then scoring 11 points over the next three minutes to rebuild a double-digit lead.
Despite Harden’s relentless scoring on three consecutive possessions to narrow the gap to three, the Clippers could not complete the comeback. Queta’s baskets around the rim and a strong defensive play leading to a Walsh transition layup helped the Celtics regain control. Derrick White’s timely 3-pointer with 1:29 remaining put Boston ahead 115-105.
Harden drew a three-shot foul on Walsh shortly after, making it 115-112. But Brown sealed the game with a powerful dunk on the next possession, securing the win.
### Additional Notes
– Sam Hauser saw just seven minutes of action, his fewest this season, finishing scoreless on 0-for-3 shooting. After a strong start to the year, Hauser has struggled recently, making only 5 of 34 three-pointers (14.7%) and 1 of 6 two-point attempts over the Celtics’ last seven games. He has reached double figures only twice this season, last doing so on October 29.
– Anfernee Simons also went scoreless in his 12 minutes off the bench, missing all three shots and committing two turnovers.
– Baylor Scheierman was the only Boston reserve with a positive plus/minus (+12) in the win.
– Luka Garza showed efficiency in limited minutes, scoring 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting and pulling down three offensive rebounds. However, the backup center struggled defensively, recording a minus-14 plus/minus and fouling out after only 14 minutes on the floor.
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The Celtics’ resilience to withstand Harden’s late charge and strong performances from Brown, Pritchard, and White highlight their ability to close out games, even as they continue to navigate a challenging early season. With the Nets up next, Boston will look to build momentum and improve their record as the season unfolds.
https://www.bostonherald.com/2025/11/16/jaylen-brown-celtics-hold-off-james-harden-charge-to-beat-clippers/