Lakers play their best basketball of the season in dominant win over rival Celtics

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Lakers guard Austin Reaves loses the ball in front of Celtics center Luke Kornet, left, in the first half of the Lakers’ win Thursday at Crypto.com Arena. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

A three-pointer, a dunk, a free throw, whatever, it didn’t matter. No matter who scored or how, the Lakers were down one against the Celtics.

The score that matters most whenever the Lakers play the Celtics this season, at least in terms of their rivalry, is 18-17. Boston took that lead last June when they added another championship to their history, nudging them ahead of the Lakers for the most ever and doing it with a roster far more equipped to build on that lead while the Lakers work against a loudly ticking clock.

But as the Lakers try to figure out who good they can be, they delivered a strong argument for having faith in them, delivering a signature win in a 117-96 blowout victory against the league’s defending champion.

Read more: LeBron James continues to make history with 21st consecutive NBA All-Star selection

The Lakers played their best 48 minutes of basketball this season — by far — quickly establishing that they were willing to attack the game from the three-point line like the Celtics while rediscovering their defensive toughness.

Boston shot only 37.8% from the field and 32.5% from three-point range, with Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla pulling the plug. The Lakers’ best players, LeBron James, Austin Reaves and Anthony Davis, all took turns dominating, the trio combining for 67 points. Dalton Knecht scored 13 and Gabe Vincent had 12 off the bench, with Vincent hitting four threes and Knecht making three.

Lakers forward Anthony Davis, bottom, battles for loose ball with Celtics forward Jayson Tatum in the second quarter Thursday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Kristaps Porzingis scored 22 to lead the Celtics (31-14).

The Lakers’ chase for their next title would’ve been right at the foreground Thursday with Boston in town, but Davis’ comments to ESPN in a taped interview from earlier this week made sure of it.

Davis told ESPN that he believes the Lakers (24-18) need to add another center, publicly…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/lakers-play-best-basketball-season-053840211.html

Author : LA Times

Publish date : 2025-01-24 05:38:00

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