Justin Russo
@flybyknite.bsky.social
They let me in the building to watch basketball & write about the Clippers (+ other stuff). It's pretty cool. | Business Inquiries: justinrussowrites@gmail.com
🚨 NEW: Try as the LA Clippers might, they were no match for the Boston Celtics’ precision and machine-like efficiency. Well, that and Jaylen Brown’s career-high-tying night. “As a group, they were a better team tonight,” said Kris Dunn. Hard to argue. 🔗 justinrusso.substack.com/p/boston-mas...
Boston massacres Clippers in second half, ends L.A.’s win streak
All good things must end.
justinrusso.substack.com
January 4, 2026 at 9:08 AM
🚨 NEW: Try as the LA Clippers might, they were no match for the Boston Celtics’ precision and machine-like efficiency. Well, that and Jaylen Brown’s career-high-tying night. “As a group, they were a better team tonight,” said Kris Dunn. Hard to argue. 🔗 justinrusso.substack.com/p/boston-mas...
Derrick Jones Jr. was limping quite heavily in the locker room following tonight's game and told reporters he will be undergoing an MRI tomorrow to assess the severity of his right knee injury.
Derrick Jones Jr. suffered a right knee injury tonight against the Celtics and will be reevaluated tomorrow, the Clippers say.
January 4, 2026 at 6:27 AM
Derrick Jones Jr. was limping quite heavily in the locker room following tonight's game and told reporters he will be undergoing an MRI tomorrow to assess the severity of his right knee injury.
Tyronn Lue said Ivica Zubac started second half because of Boston putting their center on John Collins defensively in the first half, which mucked up a bit of Clippers' offense, and they wanted a traditional center out there. Clippers were down 6 when Zubac checked out in 3rd.
January 4, 2026 at 5:52 AM
Tyronn Lue said Ivica Zubac started second half because of Boston putting their center on John Collins defensively in the first half, which mucked up a bit of Clippers' offense, and they wanted a traditional center out there. Clippers were down 6 when Zubac checked out in 3rd.
Derrick Jones Jr. suffered a right knee injury tonight against the Celtics and will be reevaluated tomorrow, the Clippers say.
January 4, 2026 at 5:49 AM
Derrick Jones Jr. suffered a right knee injury tonight against the Celtics and will be reevaluated tomorrow, the Clippers say.
Final: Celtics 146, Clippers 115. It was a 5-point game with 5:30 to go in the third quarter. Jaylen Brown scored a career-high-tying 50 to end the Clippers' 6-game winning streak. Season-high in points allowed by the Clippers. Next up: Warriors on Monday.
January 4, 2026 at 5:45 AM
Final: Celtics 146, Clippers 115. It was a 5-point game with 5:30 to go in the third quarter. Jaylen Brown scored a career-high-tying 50 to end the Clippers' 6-game winning streak. Season-high in points allowed by the Clippers. Next up: Warriors on Monday.
Jaylen Brown has the third 50-point game at Intuit Dome this season. Nikola Jokic and Kawhi Leonard, both with 55, have the others.
Jaylen Brown has tied his career-high of 50 points.
January 4, 2026 at 5:40 AM
Jaylen Brown has the third 50-point game at Intuit Dome this season. Nikola Jokic and Kawhi Leonard, both with 55, have the others.
Jaylen Brown has tied his career-high of 50 points.
January 4, 2026 at 5:38 AM
Jaylen Brown has tied his career-high of 50 points.
Tyronn Lue called the Clippers' final timeout following Bosotn's 21st 3-point of the night. The Clippers trail 131-107 with 5:48 to play. And the youngsters are in.
January 4, 2026 at 5:36 AM
Tyronn Lue called the Clippers' final timeout following Bosotn's 21st 3-point of the night. The Clippers trail 131-107 with 5:48 to play. And the youngsters are in.
Jaylen Brown has a season-high 44 points.
January 4, 2026 at 5:33 AM
Jaylen Brown has a season-high 44 points.
Derrick Jones Jr. is being assisted to the locker room.
Derrick Jones Jr. is down and slamming the floor with both fists after he got his right leg rolled up on by Boston's Payton Prichard. Second time that leg has been hurt in a game against the Celtics this season. Jones is being helped by training staff.
January 4, 2026 at 5:28 AM
Derrick Jones Jr. is being assisted to the locker room.
Derrick Jones Jr. is down and slamming the floor with both fists after he got his right leg rolled up on by Boston's Payton Prichard. Second time that leg has been hurt in a game against the Celtics this season. Jones is being helped by training staff.
January 4, 2026 at 5:28 AM
Derrick Jones Jr. is down and slamming the floor with both fists after he got his right leg rolled up on by Boston's Payton Prichard. Second time that leg has been hurt in a game against the Celtics this season. Jones is being helped by training staff.
Through three quarters, this has been the best half-court offensive game in the NBA this season.
January 4, 2026 at 5:20 AM
Through three quarters, this has been the best half-court offensive game in the NBA this season.
End Q3: Celtics 113, Clippers 99. The good: Clippers have a 140.0 offensive rating. The bad: Celtics have a 160.6 offensive rating. The ugly: Boston has rebounded 11 of their 30 misses.
January 4, 2026 at 5:19 AM
End Q3: Celtics 113, Clippers 99. The good: Clippers have a 140.0 offensive rating. The bad: Celtics have a 160.6 offensive rating. The ugly: Boston has rebounded 11 of their 30 misses.
John Collins and Derrick Jones Jr. are a combined 17-for-19 from the field overall and 6-for-7 on 3s. They have 41 points. But the Clippers trail Boston, 104-96. Jaylen Brown has 39.
January 4, 2026 at 5:13 AM
John Collins and Derrick Jones Jr. are a combined 17-for-19 from the field overall and 6-for-7 on 3s. They have 41 points. But the Clippers trail Boston, 104-96. Jaylen Brown has 39.
Ivica Zubac is starting the second half for the Clippers in place of Brook Lopez.
January 4, 2026 at 4:51 AM
Ivica Zubac is starting the second half for the Clippers in place of Brook Lopez.
Halftime: Celtics 71, Clippers 63. Derrick White (23) and Jaylen Brown (20) have combined for 43. John Collins (20) and Derrick Jones Jr. (13) are pacing the Clippers.
January 4, 2026 at 4:35 AM
Halftime: Celtics 71, Clippers 63. Derrick White (23) and Jaylen Brown (20) have combined for 43. John Collins (20) and Derrick Jones Jr. (13) are pacing the Clippers.
Make that 20 points on a perfect 8-for-8 shooting, with the last three baskets being 3s, for Collins.
John Collins has 17 points on a perfect 7-for-7 shooting. He's kept the Clippers hanging around in this first half.
January 4, 2026 at 4:22 AM
Make that 20 points on a perfect 8-for-8 shooting, with the last three baskets being 3s, for Collins.
John Collins has 17 points on a perfect 7-for-7 shooting. He's kept the Clippers hanging around in this first half.
January 4, 2026 at 4:22 AM
John Collins has 17 points on a perfect 7-for-7 shooting. He's kept the Clippers hanging around in this first half.
End Q1: Celtics 42, Clippers 28. Most points allowed in the first quarter by the Clippers since opening night against Utah.
January 4, 2026 at 4:09 AM
End Q1: Celtics 42, Clippers 28. Most points allowed in the first quarter by the Clippers since opening night against Utah.
Ivica Zubac has checked in for his first game action since suffering an ankle injury in the first quarter of Dec. 20's game against the Lakers. Zubac has missed the last five games.
January 4, 2026 at 3:53 AM
Ivica Zubac has checked in for his first game action since suffering an ankle injury in the first quarter of Dec. 20's game against the Lakers. Zubac has missed the last five games.
James Harden was hit in the face by a wayward Derrick White elbow and stayed on the ground for a while before getting up. Clippers had to call timeout. Harden spent the first bit of the timeout hunched over the scorer's table being tended to before walking to the bench.
January 4, 2026 at 3:46 AM
James Harden was hit in the face by a wayward Derrick White elbow and stayed on the ground for a while before getting up. Clippers had to call timeout. Harden spent the first bit of the timeout hunched over the scorer's table being tended to before walking to the bench.
First sighting of the upcoming Kris Dunn bobblehead.
January 4, 2026 at 3:42 AM
First sighting of the upcoming Kris Dunn bobblehead.
LA Clippers starters tonight vs Boston:
James Harden
Kris Dunn
Kawhi Leonard
John Collins
Brook Lopez
James Harden
Kris Dunn
Kawhi Leonard
John Collins
Brook Lopez
January 4, 2026 at 3:07 AM
LA Clippers starters tonight vs Boston:
James Harden
Kris Dunn
Kawhi Leonard
John Collins
Brook Lopez
James Harden
Kris Dunn
Kawhi Leonard
John Collins
Brook Lopez
Tyronn Lue, putting an end to the starter debate: “Zu is our starter.”
Ivica Zubac is coming off the bench tonight in his return. Tyronn Lue said he had a convo with Zubac yesterday and that the team is going to ride the hot hand for the moment. Zubac is expected to be on a minutes restriction tonight.
January 4, 2026 at 1:58 AM
Tyronn Lue, putting an end to the starter debate: “Zu is our starter.”
Ivica Zubac is coming off the bench tonight in his return. Tyronn Lue said he had a convo with Zubac yesterday and that the team is going to ride the hot hand for the moment. Zubac is expected to be on a minutes restriction tonight.
January 4, 2026 at 1:57 AM
Ivica Zubac is coming off the bench tonight in his return. Tyronn Lue said he had a convo with Zubac yesterday and that the team is going to ride the hot hand for the moment. Zubac is expected to be on a minutes restriction tonight.