
The Los Angeles Lakers will host the defending champion Boston Celtics tonight at Crypto.com Arena. The Purple and Gold will face one of the NBA’s top teams with five players listed on their injury report, including LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Davis and James are both listed as probable for the matchup, with Davis dealing with right calf soreness and James managing a left foot injury. However, the Lakers will be without Jalen Hood-Schifino, Christian Wood, and Jarred Vanderbilt, who remain sidelined with injuries.
The Lakers (23-18), sitting fifth in the Western Conference, are looking to build on their recent win against the Washington Wizards. The victory marked a return to form after going 5-5 in their last 10 games. With James and Davis likely suiting up, Los Angeles hopes to challenge the Celtics’ dynamic duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Boston (31-13), the second seed in the Eastern Conference, has been one of the league’s hottest teams. They are 6-4 over their last 10 games and recently edged the Los Angeles Clippers in overtime. The defending champions have yet to release their injury report for tonight’s contest. However, they missed Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in the Clippers game.
The game will feature a battle of styles, with the Celtics’ potent three-point shooting going up against the Lakers’ interior presence. Boston ranks first in three-point attempts, while Los Angeles relies heavily on Davis’ scoring and rebounding dominance in the paint.
Tip-off is set for 10:00 p.m. ET, with the Lakers aiming to upset the Celtics and climb higher in the Western Conference standings. Meanwhile, Boston will look to continue their strong form as they chase the top spot in the East.