Fitch: Only a Center Is Missing

Coach Bill Fitch, who has the team poised to earn its first playoff berth since 1993, said this has been one of his most challenging assignments in 24 NBA seasons.

“You fight the ghosts of the past,” Fitch said. “This is a young team, and they’ve had the continuity of being together for 2 1/2 years, which is important in this league.

“But we haven’t had a center. If you take this same team and put them out them out there and give me any of the top four centers in this league, you’ve got a basketball team.”

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Clipper swingman Charles Outlaw and Celtic forward Marty Conlon received technical fouls after a disagreement with 9:22 to play.

They were quickly separated before any punches were thrown.

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The Clippers didn’t arrive in Boston until 4:30 a.m. Friday because no food was loaded onto their charter flight from Orlando. They boarded their flight after dining at an Orlando restaurant.

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The Celtics were without swingman Rick Fox (flu), guard Dee Brown (toe) and forward Eric Williams (knee).