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The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers are set to clash on Monday night in a battle of teams riding impressive win streaks. The Celtics enter the contest with a 13-3 record and winners of their last four games, while the Clippers have won four straight themselves to move to 10-7 on the season.
Boston's offense has been firing on all cylinders, averaging nearly 121 points per game while shooting a blistering 46.1 percent from the field. The Celtics have been even more potent over their last five games, scoring at a 121.8-point clip on 48.5 percent shooting. Their ball movement has been crisp, dishing out 29.4 assists per contest during this stretch.
Defensively, the Celtics have clamped down, holding opponents to just 113.4 points over their last five outings while grabbing 41.2 rebounds per game. They've also protected the ball well, averaging a shade under 13 turnovers during this recent hot streak.
The Clippers, meanwhile, have found their groove on both ends. Over their last 10 games, they've scored 108.3 points per game on 46.2 percent shooting while allowing just 105.4 points on the defensive end. Their three-point shooting has been a weapon, hovering around 39 percent from deep during this stretch.
Los Angeles has also taken care of the ball better recently, trimming their turnovers to 15.3 per game over their last 10 contests. However, they'll need to be wary of Boston's disruptive defense, which has forced 7.4 steals per game on the season.
With both teams riding impressive win streaks fueled by efficient offense and stingy defense, this matchup has all the makings of a hard-fought battle. The Celtics' homecourt advantage could prove pivotal as they look to continue their torrid start against a surging Clippers squad that has found its rhythm on both ends.