BOSTON _ As someone with experience coaching Boston stars, Clippers coach Doc Rivers was asked Thursday evening for his evaluation of the Celtics' latest.
Jayson Tatum, Rivers said, was already tremendous at only 21-years-old.
"Can you imagine five years from now, what he'll be?" Rivers asked.
Over the course of the next three hours and two overtime periods, he got a preview.
On the eve of his first NBA All-Star game appearance, Tatum scored 39 points with nine rebounds to help Boston outlast the short-handed Clippers, 141-133. Tatum made five of his 10 3-pointers and 14 of his 23 shots overall in a performance that ended with a standing ovation from the sold-out TD Garden crowd when he checked out with 12.3 seconds remaining.
The loss ended the Clippers' final road trip before the All-Star break at 1-3. They are now 37-18.
Lou Williams led the Clippers with 35 points. He scored 20 of them after the third quarter and finished with eight assists and six rebounds.
Kawhi Leonard scored 28 points.
The result was overshadowed by another injury to forward Paul George.
After making two of his seven shots in the first half for four points in 15 minutes, George did not return after straining his left hamstring.
It was not a positive development for George, or the Clippers, as it was the same injury that caused the team's second-leading scorer to miss nine consecutive games in January. He also missed a 10th game with tightness in the left hamstring. The Clippers were 7-3 in those games.
The length of any potential absence is unknown but the Clippers do not play again until Feb. 22 because of the league's All-Star break this weekend in Chicago. George was scheduled to attend at least a portion of the weekend.
The Clippers scored the game's first seven points before Marcus Smart scored the 10 by himself. After making two 3-pointers, fans yelled when he approached the 3-point arc on his next possession, hoping he would take it. He was fouled by Marcus Morris, the former Celtic forward, who argued the call and was whistled for a quick technical foul. He soon received a third foul and was on the bench after only six minutes with Los Angeles trailing 18-15.
As Tatum scored 11 points in his first nine minutes, Leonard matched him on the other end by scoring 11 straight points for the Clippers en route to 15 points in his first 10 minutes. Then it became Montrezl Harrell's turn, as he scored his team's final eight points to end the first quarter with a two-point edge.
The early rhythm found by Smart, Tatum and Leonard did not extend to all their teammates. Celtics guard Kemba Walker made one of his first five shots. Boston forward Gordon Hayward and George each began 1-for-6.
With George out the Clippers started Williams in his place to begin the third quarter and rookie Amir Coffey moved up in the rotation. Despite George's absence, and Leonard off the floor for rest during the first four minutes of the fourth quarter, the Clippers trailed by only three when Leonard checked back in with eight minutes remaining in the game.
