LOS ANGELES (Sporting Alert) — The Los Angeles Clippers will look to show everyone that they are genuine championship contenders when they take on the Boston Celtics at Staples Center on Thursday night.
Watch Live Online Streaming: Boston at L.A. Clippers on TNT
When: 10:30 PM ET, Thursday, December 27, 2012
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
LA Clippers vs Boston Celtics Starters
Boston: Rajon Rondo – G. Jason Terry – G, Paul Pierce – F, Kevin Garnett – F, Jason Collins – C
LA Clippers: Willie Green – G, Chris Paul – G, Caron Butler – F, Blake Griffin – F, DeAndre Jordan – C
The Clippers (22-6) are on a 14 game winning streak and have no interest in ending it there with Boston potentially being their next victim.
Both teams are coming into the contest on the back of Christmas Day wins, with the Clippers stopping the Denver Nuggets 112-100, and the Celtics (14-13) beating Brooklyn Nets (14-14) 93-76.
NBA fans and pundits are already showering praises on the new look Los Angeles team, but star point guard Chris Paul isn’t getting too carried away with the current record run.
“This is fool’s gold,” Paul said. “You don’t play for the regular season.
“Obviously, you want to build something.”
Paul, with 9.5 assists per game, coming into the clash as the league’s second best helper behind tonight’s opposing guard Rajon Rondo, who leads the NBA with 11.9 helpers per game.
Paul Pierce (20.5) leads all scorers in this match up, but the Clippers have the next three, including Jamal Crawford, who is averaging 16.5 and setting well to win another sixth man of the year award.
“It’s about getting better and better,” said Crawford, who scored 22 points for the second straight game in Tuesday’s win over the Nuggets.
“We’re trying to stay locked in and focused.”
