PREVIEW: The Los Angeles Clippers and Boston Celtics clash Sunday afternoon from TD Garden , with The Clippers rank 30th in tempo, while the Celtics rank 29th. —a matchup between two deliberate offensive systems looking to control the tempo. After snapping a six-game losing streak by defeating Dallas in overtime, James Harden delivered a dominant 41-point performance to lead LA back to winning ways. The Clippers' defensive profile shows concerning weaknesses, allowing a league-high 44.8 percent of three-point attempts while ranking 29th in turnover forcing , creating potential scoring opportunities for Boston's perimeter-heavy attack. Meanwhile, Boston dispatched Memphis convincingly and has won three of its last five games, with Payton Pritchard emerging as a scoring force off the bench . The Celtics enter this matchup with significant defensive advantages on the perimeter, as Boston ranks third in defending three-point shooting while forcing the fewest turnovers in the league. LA counters with the league's top post-up frequency on offense, though their rim attack ranks near the bottom at 29th , suggesting limited paint dominance. The Celtics boast elite spacing on offense while maintaining solid midrange volume at third, yet struggle to attack the rim consistently at 30th , making this a clash between different offensive philosophies. The Celtics will be without Jayson Tatum due to an Achilles injury, while the Clippers are missing Bradley Beal and managing Kawhi Leonard's load management , setting the stage for a contest where supporting casts will prove critical to victory.