NBA highlights on Feb. 13: Celtics beat Clippers in double OT

Li Xiang

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Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics reacts in the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, February 13, 2020. /VCG Photo

Los Angeles Clippers 133-141 Boston Celtics

The Celtics managed to enter All-Star break with a victory in their last game at the TD Garden. By contrast, Clippers suffered their second straight loss and saw their standing behind the Denver Nuggets grow to one game.

Unlike the defensive contest they put up last time at the Staples Center on November 20, 2019, the Celtics and the Clippers this time had a high-scoring competition on Thursday.

Lou Williams #23 of the Los Angeles Clippers shoots the ball in the game against the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden, February 13, 2020. /VCG Photo

Kawi Leonard made consistent contributions most time of the game dropping 28 points, 11 rebounds and four assists. However, he fell into a slump since the fourth quarter and went 2-9 in Q4 and the two OTs. Fortunately for the Clippers, Lou Williams came back to life after several disappointing games in a row. He put down team-high 35 points and eight assists, again making the league's most intimidating offensive pair off the bench with Montrezl Harrell who got 24 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks.

Jayson Tatum was the biggest hero on Boston's side. Not only did he drop a game-high 39 points, he also beat Leonard in several of their one-one-one possessions both defensively and offensively. More importantly, he carried Boston's offense in the two OTs by targeting Landry Shamet continuously.

Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics makes a layup in the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the TD Garden, February 13, 2020. /VCG Photo

"He (Tatum) was incredible. He made every right play. He made every big shot. He was the best player on the court tonight," said Tatum's teammate Kemba Walker.

"Any time you get a chance to play against guys you look up to, or arguably are the best guys in the league, it definitely kind of raises your level of play. I enjoy competing against the best players," said Tatum.

Jayson Tatum (L) of the Boston Celtics posts up in the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the TD Garden, February 13, 2020. /VCG Photo

Tatum's incredible performance on Thursday came from his complete offensive skills. He could bury big shots (5-10) from the 3-point line, drive towards the rim to hurt the opponents' defense via either free throws (6-10) or scoring directly in the paint (7-9), and drain middle-range jumpers in isolation possessions.

Finally, the Celtics seemed to have found a new go-to guy after Paul Pierce. The even better news is that Tatum will not turn 22 until March 3.

Paul George of the Los Angeles Clippers reacts in the game against the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden, February 13, 2020. /VCG Photo

George's injury is definitely bad news for the Clippers. The team announced that he suffered a strained left hamstring again, the same injury that cost him 10 games so far this season. It's bad enough he has not established chemistry with Leonard but George's absence will make the Clippers' defense even worse, especially when they have to stand two defensive loopholes, Williams and Harrel, on the court for the sake of offense.

Oklahoma City Thunder 123-118 New Orleans Pelicans

Chris Paul #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder shoots the ball in the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 13, 2020. /VCG Photo

The Thunder put an end to their two-straight-loss-streak and remained sixth in the Western Conference before the All-Star Weekend. Danilo Gallinari scored team-high 29 points, including 11 points in four minutes at the end of the fourth quarter.

Chris Paul put down 14 points, eight rebounds, 12 assists and two steals. He matched Clyde Drexler to deliver the seventh-most steals (2,207) in NBA history.

Steven Adams had a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds. He also drained the first triple in his career as he threw the ball into the net from OKC's half court 3.3 seconds before the end of the first half.

Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans shoots the ball in the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Smoothie King Center, February 13, 2020. /VCG Photo

However, none of them was the shiniest star at the Smoothie King Center on Thursday. Despite the Pelicans' loss, Zion Williamson again showed the league his dominance in the game. The 19-year-old was 11-19 to get game-high 32 points plus six rebounds.

According to StatMuse, Williamson is the first rookie to score 20+points in eight of the first 10 games in his career in almost 35 years. By the way, the last player who did that was Michael Jordan.

In these 10 games, Williamson dropped a total of 221 points, becoming the third No. 1 select who got over 200 points in his first 10 games in 30 years, following Shaquille O'Neal and Allen Iverson.

Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans shoots the ball in the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Smoothie King Center, February 13, 2020. /VCG Photo

Williamson had 30+points in two consecutive games. There were three other players who also did it under 20 – LeBron James, Devin Booker and Luka Doncic – but none of them did it in their first 10 games.

So far, Williamson has scored 148 points in the paint, no NBA player in the past 20 years has ever done that in their first 10 games.

Yahoo Sports called him the "Shaquille O'Neal of the NBA's small-ball era."

Judging by Williamson's ridiculous dominance under the rim, they are not wrong.