BOSTON — While the Celtics started slow from 3-point land against the Clippers, that quickly changed once the second quarter came. Los Angeles has impressed this season, bringing in a top-5 defensive rating into Monday’s game at TD Garden.
But there was no stopping the Celtics in the second quarter as they nearly made some history in multiple ways. They welcomed Kristaps Porzingis into the lineup with a bang as they blew out the Clippers.
First and foremost, the Celtics outscored the Clippers 51-29 in the second quarter. They pushed a seven-point lead all the way up to 29 as the Clippers had no answers. The 51 points the Celtics scored were the third-highest in team history, per the team.
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“It is a team sport, so each and every night things may look different,” Jaylen Brown said. “Got to be okay with that. Just making the right plays, finding your rhythm and stuff like that. I want to continue to play fast. That’s what I’m going to keep urging Joe and urging our team to do, but just keep making plays, playing the right way, is just going to be important. Tonight was a good example of that.”
The Celtics have scored more points in a quarter just two other times in franchise history. No. 1 was a 54-point fourth quarter against the San Diego Rockets on Feb. 25, 1970. No. 2 was a 52-point fourth quarter against the Minneapolis Lakers on Feb. Feb. 27, 1959. Notably, the C’s scored 173 points in that Lakers win, which still stands as a franchise record for points.
Back in present day, the Celtics overwhelmed the Clippers courtesy of their 3-point shooting. That’s where they also made more history: Their 12 3-pointers made in the second quarter tied an NBA record for most 3s in a single quarter. The Celtics finished with 22 made 3s Monday, which was seven short of tying the NBA record for most 3s in a single game. (The C’s also did that by making 29 3-pointers in the season-opening win over the Knicks on their home court.)
Brown scored 13 points in the second quarter on 4-for-5 shooting, including a 3-for-4 showing from 3. Derrick White added 12 points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting, all from 3-point land. All eight Celtics who played in the second quarter also ended up scoring as part of a balanced effort. And to put a bow on it, they did it against a Clippers defense that had been having success throughout the season.
“I think when we’re at our best, you have to have an understanding of this is what we do,” C’s coach Joe Mazzulla said. “When we’re at our best, we do this. And how long can we stay at the best version of ourselves? It’s important.”
