In the latest chapter of the NBA's most iconic rivalry, the Lakers went to Boston's TD Garden in a bid to secure their ninth straight win. With the two teams ranked second in the East, fans expected an intense showdown and that's exactly what they got.
In Luka's first Celtics game as a Laker, nobody was sure what to expect and you could see both teams feeling each other out as they traded shots back and forth in the first half (54-58 at halftime). It wasn't until the third quarter where the game broke open, with the Celtics taking a 16-point lead after holding the Lakers to 13. The Lakers made a run in the fourth quarter to pull the game within single digits but it was not enough to win the game (111-101.
Jayson Tatum led for the Celtics with 40 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists on 42.9% shooting. Jaylen Brown finished with 31 points, six rebounds, and two assists on 3-6 shooting from three. Al Horford (in place of Kristaps Porzingis) dropped 14 points, nine rebounds, and four assists on 55.6% shooting.
Luka Doncic was the Lakers' highest scorer with 34 points, eight rebounds, and three assists on 50% shooting. LeBron James exited the game with a groin injury but he still managed to drop 22 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists on 47.8% shooting. Austin Reaves scored 16 points, three rebounds, and two assists on 13-25 shooting.
The Lakers made a strong push in the second half, led by LeBron James (before he went out) and Luka Doncic. They pulled the game to within single digits but once James went down it all fell apart and the Lakers could never fully close the gap. The Celtics (46-18) are now tied for the second-longest win streak in the East at four straight games.
Impenetrable Celtics Defense
One of the most interesting aspects of this matchup was Luka Doncic going up against the Celtics' defense. This is the same defense that Luka saw in the Finals, which caused a disastrous performance from the Mavericks that led to them losing the series in five games.
Tonight, the Celtics didn't even have Kristaps Porzingis in the lineup, and they still managed to hold the Lakers to 44.8% shooting with nine steals and five blocks. Between Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Jayson Tatum, the Celtics have a slew of long and skilled defenders that bothered the Lakers all night.
As the fifth ranked defensive team (111.2 rating), the Celtics are tough to beat at home, especially when the competition is missing their starting center (no Jaxson Hayes).
Injuries Took A Toll
The Lakers won eight straight games before this loss and while they were outplayed tonight, a bigger story may be what happened to the Lakers' rotation. They were decimated by sudden injuries and by the end of the game, they were out several key rotation players.
Before the game even started, it was announced that Jaxson Hayes would miss the game due to a right knee contusion. In the first half, Luka Doncic looked lethargic on the court and many fans believe there is a lingering injury.
The worst news was regarding LeBron James. He left in the middle of the game and didn’t return. It was later revealed that he could miss months to recover and if the Lakers aren’t whole, it will be hard to maintain their place in the Western standings.
No Answer For Tatum And Brown
The key to the Lakers’ recent success was their stifling defense, but it fell apart tonight with Tatum and Brown combining for 71 points. They straight up outdueled LeBron James and Luka Doncic tonight, who were too injured or hobbled to keep up.
With 40 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists, Tatum was launching frequently from three and he was clearly looking to make a statement against his team’s old rival.
Meanwhile, Brown’s 31 points, six rebounds, and two assists helped give Boston the edge. His defense on Luka Doncic was huge in the win and a reminder of why he won the Finals MVP last June.
This rivalry goes as far back as Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell and it gave us another classic tonight between two of the best duos in basketball. It didn't end the way Lakers fans wanted to, but they may get another crack at it in the NBA Finals if Luka and LeBron stay healthy enough to make a run through the West.
