The Christmas Celtics continue to assert their dominance on the rest of the league, as they eventually ran out 126-115 winners over the LA Lakers. Boston was led by Kristaps Porzingis on his return from injury, who had 28 points and 11 rebounds upon return to the starting lineup. All five Boston starters once again surpassed 18 points and continued to show why they are the best five-man unit in the NBA. The Celtics did have to work for their victory, especially as Anthony Davis went off and scored 40 points and hauled in 13 rebounds to lead the way for the Lakers. Nevertheless, Boston ended their west coast swing with their loss to the Warriors the only blemish on their record.
The Celtics rapidly ran out to a 12-0 lead to begin the game and led by as many as 18 points to start the first quarter. Jaylen Brown had another superb start to the game helping Boston extend their early lead. After Queta’s success against the Clippers and Kings, he didn’t find things so easy against the Lakers as he struggled to guard Anthony Davis and got into early foul trouble.
The Lakers strolled right back in the second quarter and the Boston lead was cut down to just a single point by half time. Mainly due to the Lakers stepping up their interior defence as well as the Celtics struggling from behind the arc after a superb start. Boston did end up struggling from beyond the arc after two emphatic shooting nights of around 50% shooting. They finished the game shooting just 31% from three in the game.
Boston bounced right back in the third quarter after a poor start, with Jarred Vanderbilt’s dunk leading to a Celtics seven-nothing run to allow the Celtics to regain a comfortable advantage. The Celtics did not look back from this point, mainly thanks to Kristaps Porzingis who continued to hit big shots leading the way for Boston with 28 points and 11 rebounds. Jayson Tatum also contributed 25 points despite struggling to make shots from the field (just 6/15), he made a living at the free throw line with 12 made free throws on the night.
The Celtics kept the Lakers at arms distance the rest of the way, as the rest of Davis’s supporting cast where unable to make any real offensive impact. With the Celtics finally closing out third consecutive road win ending their west coast road trip with a 3-1 record.
Kristaps Porzingis commented on the Celtics’ shooting from three after the win via ESPN: “honestly, we okayed really good basketball. We just did not make, or we did not shoot what we normally shoot from outside. But other that that I think we played really well”. Jrue Holiday also had this to say about Boston’s victory: “We all know that if we push the pace one of us is going to get a shot. I feel like when we have that energy and if I run to my spot and I run down the lane I am going to get the ball”. Boston will return home to the TD Garden to face the Detroit Pistons who are currently on a historic losing streak.
By Will C
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