NBA
Boston Celtics vs LA Clippers Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction
Kick Off Time: 10.30 pm, ET Venue: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, California SportsBoom previews the NBA cross-conference match between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Dome on Wednesday, 22nd January 2025. With the season approaching its mid-point, anticipation and excitement is building ahead of tipoff, and NBA betting fans are already diving into the odds and assessing both teams, hoping to find the best value. For a detailed, in-depth look at the match, team analysis, best-value betting picks, key players on each roster and a review of recent and historical matchups, be sure to check out our full preview and place your bets on top NBA betting sites.
Jayson Tatum//Getty Images
The defending champions the Boston Celtics will travel to Los Angeles to face the Los Angeles Clippers in their final meeting of the season, looking to complete the season sweep. The Celtics' good season has somehow gone under the radar, due to the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Oklahoma City Thunder racing out of the blocks and registering historical starts to their seasons. The Celtics are currently second in the Eastern Conference standings and with the championship experience available on their roster, many feel they will get into the next gear once the playoffs begin.
On the other hand, the Clippers are having a decent season, considering that their franchise player, Kawhi Leonard has only recently returned from long-term knee injuries and has only featured in four games while being on minutes’ restrictions. This coupled with the offseason departure of Paul George and Russell Westbrook seems to have set the Clippers back, but the team has rallied to fifth spot in the blood bath that is the Western Conference.
Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability
Boston Celtics: 4/9 (1.44) - 69%
LA Clippers: 7/4 (2.75) - 36%
Forecast Odds – Betting available on Stake closer to event
Head-to-Head Record
The Los Angeles Clippers and the Boston Celtics have played 141 games in the regular season with 94 victories for the Celtics and 47 for the Clippers. In the playoffs they have played each other 12 times, with the Celtics claiming eight victories to the Clipper’s four.
Over a recent five-game stretch, the Celtics have claimed three victories while the Clippers have claimed two.
LAST FIVE MATCHES
| Season | Date | Result |
| 2024/2025 | November 25th 2025 | Boston Celtics 126-94 Los Angeles Clippers |
| 2023/2024 | January 27th 2024 | Boston Celtics 96-115 Los Angeles Clippers |
| 2023/2024 | December 23rd 2023 | Los Angeles Clippers 108-145 Boston Celtics |
| 2022/2023 | December 29th 2022 | Boston Celtics 116-110 Los Angeles Clippers |
| 2022/2023 | December 12th 2022 | Los Angeles Clippers 113-93 Boston Celtics |
HOW IS THE SEASON SO FAR FOR BOTH TEAMS?
Los Angeles Clippers: Current Form WWWLL
- Overall Record: 23-17
- Home Record: 14-6
- Away Record: 9-11
The Los Angeles Clippers have caught many by surprise this season. In an unexpected turn of events, superstar Kawhi Leonard missed time as a result of nagging knee injuries and Paul George and Russell Westbrooks departed to the Philadelphia 76ers and the Denver Nuggets respectively. As a result, the Clippers were expected to tank and be a lottery team. However, James Harden took the team on his back and carried them to a competitive 23-17 record in the tough Western Conference standings.
Norman Powell has upped his scoring production since becoming a starter after years of being a sixth man. He is in contention for an All-Star selection and Ivica Zubac's offensive role has improved. Bench production has greatly increased, with various role players taking turns, thus having remarkable contributions on a nightly basis.
Kawhi Leonard has returned from injury but the Clippers are easing him into the lineup, with his production expected to increase as the season progresses and attention being diverted to having him fully healthy for the playoffs.
Coach Tyronn Lue has found a way to be competitive in the unpredictable West and with the trade deadline looming, Clippers can pull a surprise and acquire assets or a reliable star to lessen the burden off Harden’s shoulders.
The Intuit Dome has played a significant role in the team’s performance. The Clippers are finally building their own identity and culture after years of being referred to as the “basement team” for being hosted at the Crypto.com Arena, which is the home of their fierce rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers.
Ivica Zubac posts up against Kristaps Porzingis//Getty Images
Key Players to Watch
- James Harden: James Harden has turned back the clock this season. The ‘Beard’ may have lost a step due to his age, but he still offers elite playmaking. Harden is averaging 21.5 points per game and 8 assists. If the Clippers are to make the playoffs, Harden has to continue this production.
- Norman Powell: Norman Powell has been a stud so far this season. He leads the team in scoring 23.7 points per game. Powell’s clutch gene has been on showcase during certain games in the season and he is sure to challenge for a first All-Star appearance.
- Ivica Zubac: Ivica Zubac has finally gotten a significant role after years of being in the shadows of star players such as Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Zubac is leading the team in rebounds and blocks. He will be a menace down low against an undersized Warriors team.
Los Angeles Clippers Team News
Kawhi Leonard is back with the team but Coach Tyronn Lue may decide to rest him, or as has been the case, ease him in while under minutes’ restriction.
The Clippers announced last Sunday that Tucker will not be with the team moving forward.
Boston Celtics: Current Form – LWLWL
- Overall Record: 28-12
- Home Record: 14-7
- Away Record: 14-5
The Boston Celtics begun the season in a dominant fashion, as they look to defend their NBA championship. They have the championship experience and a core of elite talent on their roster. However, two other franchises are better than them at this stage of the season, taking the clout from the Celtics.
Jason Tatum is once again among the MVP conversations within the league, with his benching seeming to be his source of motivation. Tatum leads the Celtics in points per game, steals, rebounds and assists. Tatum’s partner in crime, Jaylen Brown, is also an X-factor capable of taking over games down the stretch. Kristaps Porzingis is finally healthy after a lengthy layoff, while veterans Al Horford and Jrue Holiday continue to offer timeless and unselfish play.
Derrick White is posting the best numbers of his career since joining the team, averaging 16.2 points a game and nearly five rebounds and assists.
The Celtics have recently lost three games that they were expected to easily dominate and they will be looking to shore up on defense, as they seek to keep pace with the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.
Key Players to Watch
- Jason Tatum: Jason Tatum is a player on fire. One of the best players in the league, Tatum has taken his game a notch higher, improving his rebounding output while becoming one of the league’s best two players. His Olympic-benching fiasco seems to have worked wonders, as he is poised for another First-Team-All-NBA if he keeps this trajectory up.
- Jaylen Brown: Jaylen Brown is once again the X-factor for the Celtics. He finds ways to dominate even if his statistical averages don’t showcase. Brown is an elite defender and offers the Celtics another play route with his post and mid-rage if the threes aren’t falling.
- Kristaps Porzingis: Kristaps Porzingis is finally back on the court after dealing with injuries and fitness issues since the beginning of the season. Porzingis offers the Celtics size-down-low and makes the team’s play unpredictable, as he is a marksman from all scoring areas on the court.
Boston Celtics Team News
The Celtics have a clean bill of health for this matchup in Los Angeles
Predicted Lineups
The actual line-ups may vary from the below-predicted line-ups, based on injuries and team dynamics among other factors.
Los Angeles Clippers Lineup
- Point Guard: James Harden
- Shooting Guard: Norman Powell
- Small Forward: Kawhi Leonard
- Power Forward: Derrick Jones Jr.
- Center: Ivica Zubac
Boston Celtics Lineup
- Point Guard: Derrick White
- Shooting Guard: Jrue Holiday
- Small Forward: Jaylen Brown
- Power Forward: Jayson Tatum
- Center: Kristaps Porzingis
Suggested Bets
Boston Celtics to Win: The Celtics are simply well-shaped from top to bottom. Hence, they are more favoured to win this game, not unless they have a bad day in office.
Boston Celtics to Cover the Spread: There is a likelihood of the LA Clippers being the underdogs, hence the Celtics will most likely cover the spread.
Over 218.5 points: The Celtics are averaging 117.5 points this season and the Clippers 109.4, hence this is an achievable outcome.
Value Bets
Player performance and injuries might change closer to the game, hence these props are subject to change.
J. Tatum – (25 points + 6 rebounds + 5 assists): Tatum will most likely dominate this game and score high points for his team.
Jaylen Brown – (Over 22.5 points): Brown has been averaging at least 23 points per game this season, making this an anticipated outcome.
James Harden – (Over 5 assists): For Harden, this is an achievable expectation, given that he has been averaging at least 8 assists per game.
Prediction: Boston Celtics to Win
The Celtics are equipped with a solid roster and boast a younger superstar duo. In contrast, the Clippers have a remarkable squad, but their star player, Kawhi Leonard, has recently returned from injury and is still working to regain full fitness.
Ian Mugo Wanyeki is based in Nairobi, Kenya. He is a sports enthusiast with vast knowledge of different sport disciplines. Ian is a graduate with a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Kenyatta University. He is a Kenyan journalist who’s worked as a sports analyst at Covenant Television Network, as a sports reporter at NTV and as a Sports Correspondent/contributor at Quartz Africa.
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