The Los Angeles Lakers delivered a commanding performance Thursday night, defeating the Boston Celtics 117-96 at Crypto.com Arena. Anthony Davis led the way with 24 points, while Austin Reaves added 23, helping the Purple and Gold improve to 24-18 on the season.
LeBron James contributed 20 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, marking his 21st consecutive All-Star selection earlier in the day. The 40-year-old also climbed to seventh place in NBA history for defensive rebounds, surpassing Hakeem Olajuwon in the third quarter.
The Lakers, who hit a season-high 11 three-pointers in the first half, built a 28-point lead in the fourth quarter. Gabe Vincent tied his season high with four triples, finishing with 12 points, while Dalton Knecht added 13 off the bench. Los Angeles shot an efficient 47.2% from the field and 42.9% from beyond the arc.
Kristaps Porzingis led Boston with 22 points, and Jaylen Brown added 17. Jayson Tatum, who was also named an All-Star earlier in the day, finished with 16 points in 29 minutes. The Celtics struggled offensively, shooting just 38.5% from the field and committing seven turnovers.
Fatigue appeared to play a role for Boston, which was playing its third game in four days after an overtime victory against the Clippers on Wednesday. Despite the challenge, Porzingis remained a bright spot, scoring efficiently and grabbing seven rebounds.
The Lakers dominated the glass, outrebounding Boston 53-42. Los Angeles also excelled in sharing the ball, finishing with 27 assists compared to Boston’s 23. LeBron and Reaves combined for 12 assists, showcasing their playmaking abilities.
Bronny James made his second straight appearance for the Lakers, logging four minutes in the blowout win. Though he went scoreless, the rookie guard continues to earn opportunities in limited action.
The Celtics dropped to 31-14 but remain second in the Eastern Conference standings. They will look to regroup after this tough loss as they head into a lighter schedule next week.
