Wednesday’s game between the Celtics and Clippers was highly entertaining. Boston required overtime to win despite having Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White in the lineup. The Clippers were down four starters (James Harden, Norman Powell, Kawhi Leonard, and Ivica Zubac), but the available players didn’t use that as an excuse.

Playing without six of their top eight rotation players, Derrick Jones Jr., Kevin Porter Jr and Amir Coffey lead a gutty effort as the hosts push the reigning champs until the end in a 117-113

(AP) — Jaylen Brown scored 25 points ... NBA champions played without Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. Derrick Jones Jr. scored a career-high 29 points, 17 in the first quarter, to lead ...

The Celtics defeated the Clippers, 117-113, in OT. Top Performers – Boston Jaylen Brown – 25 points, 6 assists, 2 3PM Jayson Tatum – 24 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 3PM Derrick White – 20 points,

Boston required overtime to win despite having Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown ... players didn't use that as an excuse. SF/PF Derrick Jones Jr. (7%), SF/PF Amir Coffey (3%), and PG Kevin Porter ...

The Celtics finished their road trip 3-1 after knocking off the Mavericks on Saturday night behind a big third quarter from Derrick White.

The Celtics need to execute better, especially during fourth-quarter possessions. They also need to sharpen up on offense and defense.

After Houston’s 114-112 victory, Brown said Boston entered the game intending to neutralize Jalen Green, Fred VanVleet and Alperen Sengun. The Celtics accomplished that, holding the Rockets’ top three leading scorers to 30 total points on 9-of-32 shooting (3-for-14 on 3-pointers).

James Harden (24), Norman Powell (23) and Ivica Zubac (25) all scored 20+ points in the loss, snapping LA’s two-game win streak. Kawhi Leonard played a season-high 28 minutes and finished with 17 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and a block.

McClung is the main attraction as he looks to become the first player to three-peat and only the second player, alongside Nate Robinson, to win three contests. He became the first G League player to ever appear in the Dunk Contest in 2023 and defended the title last year by dunking over NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Keon Johnson led a balanced Brooklyn attack with 18 points, and the Nets snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 104-83 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night. Jalen Wilson added 15 points and Tosan Evbuomwan had 14 for the Nets, who never trailed.