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

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.

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.

The Celtics had to sweat out an overtime win over the Clippers on Wednesday, but wouldn't have done it without Jaden Springer and his defensive intensity.

Jaylen Brown scored 25 points, Jayson Tatum added 24 and the Boston Celtics rallied past the Los Angeles Clippers 117-113 in overtime on Wednesday night when both teams were missing key players. Derrick White added 20 points and Sam Hauser had 15,

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 ...

Boston Celtics guard Derrick White reflects on life as a young dad at a recent Shamrock Foundation event at the Auerbach Center

Boston’s TGL debut produced its best match so far: Boston Common Golf, led by Rory McIlroy, may have lost to Tiger Woods’ Jupiter Links Golf Club team in overtime on Monday, but the newly-launched TMRW Golf League (TGL) was probably the real winner amid the best match of the inaugural season so far.

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).

NBA playoff picture is gradually taking shape, with all teams having played at least half of their regular season games. As the second half of the season unfolds, the Boston Celtics are the favorite to win the championship at +250 odds.

James Harden scored 17 of his 40 points in the third quarter and Norman Powell added 33 points as the Los Angeles Clippers finished off a 127-117 victory over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks at Inglewood,