Entry to the Champs • 213hoops.com

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

Game information

Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts

When: 4:30 PM PT

That’s how you see: KTLA, AM 570

Expected starting lineups

Cutting machines: James Harden – Amir Coffey – Kris Dunn – Derrick Jones Jr. – Ivica Zubac

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

Injuries

Cutting machines: Kawhi Leonard Out (Knee), Norm Powell Doubtful (Hamstring), PJ Tucker Out (Away from Team), Trentyn Flowers Out (G-League), Cam Christie Out (G-League)

Celtics: Kristaps Porzingis Doubtful (Foot), Luke Kornet Doubtful (Hamstring), Al Horford Questionable (Rest)

The antagonist

If the Celtics aren’t the best team in the league, they’re right up there. With the 15-3 figure, the Celtics are in the top three Net assessment along with the Thunder and Cavaliers as 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 just blows away most competition and can be shifted around in different combinations to support bench units. That they do all this without starting center Kristaps Porzingis is even more impressive – their perimeter defense and shooting are good enough that they can do without his rim protection and plus shooting. The Celtics fear no one and are nearly unbeatable at home. Losing to them on the road the second night of a back-to-back is more or less expected (although the Celtics also played last night). Scheduling-wise, this could very well be the toughest game on the Clippers’ schedule all season.

Notes

The defensive tasks: What’s tough about the Celtics is that they start four perimeter players you really have to guard. This means there is no soft hiding place for James Harden, although I expect they will “hide” him on Jrue Holiday, who at this point in his career is absolutely the worst offensive player between him, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. I’d guess Coffey is on White, with Dunn and DJJ on the Celtics’ star wings. Usually, Dunn gets the best offensive player on the other team, which is Tatum, but I’m sure the Clippers will trade like crazy anyway. The key for the Clippers will be to limit the Celtics’ three pointers as much as possible and funnel them into Ivica Zubac at the rim. It will be a huge test for the Clippers, who have demonstrated their ability time and time again on defense this year, but haven’t faced anything like the Celtics’ buzzsaw.

Keeps Harden going: The Clippers got James Harden’s most efficient scoring game of the season last night as he scored 23 points on just 10 shots over the Sixers. The Celtics are a very different story. They’re long, physical and love to pressure opposing ball handlers — all things that could confuse Harden. The fact that the Celtics have so many plus defenders also means that it will be difficult for the accompanying Clippers to cook, which puts a lot on Harden’s shoulders. If he’s able to hit his usual 20 and 9, even if it’s ineffective, the Clippers might have a chance to win. If he underperforms by a significant margin, they will likely be blown out.