Since the LA Clippers signed franchise superstar Kawhi Leonard in 2019, each battle with the Boston Celtics has been a thriller. The matchups are typically decided in crunch time, as the best team attains victory.
Moreover, on November 25th, 2025, the Clippers faced the Celtics on the road in TD Garden. This was going to be one of the season’s biggest tasks, as head coach Tyronn Lue was expected to defeat the reigning champions without his top superstar.
Despite being down seven at the end of the first quarter, the Clippers tried their best to suppress Boston’s offense. Conversely, these efforts did not last, as they won the game with a 51-point second frame.
Soon after halftime, Lue substituted his reserves as he realized the Clippers had fallen too far behind. This game had gone from a tough obstacle to a blowout loss by the end of the third.
In conclusion, former MVP James Harden posted 19 points, nine assists, eight rebounds, and five turnovers on eight field goals, including three from beyond the arc.
As Lue was without his leading scorer, Norman Powell, he needed starting big man Ivica Zubac to bully the Celtics down low. The Croatian star showed up for his squad and tormented Boston’s interior defense, finishing with 23 points and 10 rebounds in 29 minutes.
Although injuries had an impact, the Clippers lost by 32 because their role players did not show up. On both sides of the ball, there were missed opportunities, reckless turnovers, and seemingly zero will to win.
These miscues must be fixed tonight as the Celtics play in Intuit Dome for the first time this season. A loss would be detrimental for Lue, as their recent four-game win streak would have been followed up with back-to-back losses.
Is Kawhi Leonard playing against the Celtics?
The LA Clippers are in the first half of a back-to-back, so Kawhi Leonard(injury management) will not play against Boston.
Complete injury report for Clippers vs Celtics
As most expected, forward P.J. Tucker(away from the team) is not available for the LA Clippers. Additionally, Tyronn Lue will not have Kris Dunn(left knee soreness), Norman Powell(back soreness), and Ivica Zubac(corneal abrasion). Nicolas Batum(right finger soreness) and James Harden(right groin soreness) are questionable.
The Celtics will miss JD Davison(G-League), Drew Peterson(G-League), and Anton Watson(G-League). Jrue Holiday(right shoulder impingement), Al Horford(left toe sprain), and Kristaps Porzingis(illness) have been revealed as questionable.