Jaylen Brown delivered 33 points and 13 rebounds, and Payton Pritchard added 30 as the Boston Celtics edged the Los Angeles Clippers 121-118 on Sunday night at TD Garden.
Boston moved to 7-7 with the result and secured its second consecutive victory, building early separation before withstanding a late push.
Derrick White supplied 22 points, nine assists, and seven boards in a strong two-way performance, while Neemias Queta added 14 points and nine rebounds to bolster Boston’s interior presence.
The Celtics led by as many as 24 in the third quarter, controlling the pace through efficient spacing and quick decision-making.
Pritchard’s outside shooting stretched the floor as he hit eight of his 13 attempts from deep, including two timely threes that fueled a 76-52 advantage midway through the third.
Los Angeles trimmed the deficit to 90-85 by the end of the quarter, closing on a 12-4 run capped by James Harden’s left-wing three in the final seconds.
Harden, coming off a triple-double in a double-overtime win at Dallas, carried the Clippers’ offense again and finished with 37 points, scoring 32 after halftime.
Ivica Zubac contributed 16 points and 12 rebounds, giving Los Angeles consistent touches in the paint.
Derrick Jones Jr. exited in the second quarter after a collision, grabbing his right knee before being helped to the locker room. He did not return.
Brown steadied Boston in the early fourth, scoring 11 of the team’s first 16 points in the period through a mix of mid-range jumpers, a three, and a three-point play.
The Clippers continued to press, closing the gap to 119-118 when Harden connected on a deep three with two seconds left.
Pritchard was fouled on the ensuing inbound and converted both free throws to push the lead back to three.
Harden had one last look at a potential tying attempt at the buzzer, but the shot hit the rim and bounced out.
Boston recorded 49 rebounds and hit 16 threes, countering Los Angeles’ 93% shooting at the foul line.
The Celtics remained composed late, limiting turnovers and securing key rebounds to hold off the rally.
Los Angeles dropped to 4-9 with the defeat as its road trip continued.
The Clippers visit Philadelphia on Monday, while Boston heads to Brooklyn on Tuesday seeking its third straight win.
