The Clippers come to Boston on a five-game winning streak and face their toughest opponent of the season so far, the defending champion Celtics (15-3).

Game information

Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts

When: 4:30 p.m. PT

Here’s how to watch: KTLA, AM 570

Expected starting lineups

Hair clippers: James Harden – Amir Coffey – Kris Dunn – Derrick Jones Jr. – Ivica Zubac

Celtics: Derrick White – Jrue Holiday – Jaylen Brown – Jason Tatum – Xavier Tillman

Injuries

Hair clippers: Kawhi Leonard is out (knee), Norm Powell Doubtful (hamstring), PJ Tucker is out (away), Trentyn Flowers is out (G-League), Cam Christie is out (G-League)

Celtics: Kristaps Porzingis Doubtful (foot), Luke Kornet Doubtful (thigh), Al Horford Questionable (break)

The antagonist

Even though the Celtics aren’t the best team in the league, they are right up there. At a solid 15-3, the Celtics join the Thunder and Cavaliers in the top three in net scoring, with top-10 units on both sides of the ball. The Celtics’ depth isn’t the best, but they make up for it with an exceptional starting unit that simply outshines most competitors and can be staggered in various combinations to support bench units. The fact that they can do all of this without starting player Kristaps Porzingis is even more impressive – their perimeter defense and shooting ability are so good that they can do without his rim protection and plus shot. The Celtics are afraid of no one and are almost unbeatable at home. A road loss to them on the second night of a meeting is more or less expected (although the Celtics also played last night). In terms of schedule, this might be the toughest game on the Clippers’ schedule all season.

Notes

The defense tasks: The difficult thing about the Celtics is that they use four fringe players that you really have to protect. This means there is no soft hiding place for James Harden, although I expect they will “place” him with Jrue Holiday, who is definitely the worst offensive player between him, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum at this point in his career is . I would guess that Coffey is on white, while Dunn and DJJ are on the Celtics’ star wings. Normally Dunn gets the best offensive player on the other team, Tatum, but I’m sure the Clippers will still move like crazy. The key for the Clippers will be to limit the Celtics’ three pointers as much as possible and funnel them to Ivica Zubac at the rim. It will be a big test for the Clippers, who have proven their prowess on defense time and time again this year but have never experienced anything quite like the Celtics’ buzzsaw.

Harden continue: The Clippers had James Harden’s most efficient scoring game of the season last night when he scored 23 points on just 10 shots in a win over the Sixers. The Celtics are a completely different story. They’re long, physical and love to pressure opposing ball handlers – all things that can make Harden nervous. The fact that the Celtics have so many plus defenders also means it will be difficult for the Clippers’ secondary to cook, which will ask a lot of Harden. If he can hit his usual 20 and 9, even if it’s inefficient, the Clippers could have a chance to win. If he underperforms that significantly, they will likely be thrown out of the race.