Jayson Tatum scored 40 points with 12 rebounds and eight assists as the Boston Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 111-101 on Saturday night. Jaylen Brown added 31 points as Boston secured its fourth consecutive win.
The Celtics (46-18) controlled most of the game, but the Lakers (40-22) made a late push despite losing LeBron James to a strained groin. Los Angeles cut a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit to single digits before Tatum and Brown sealed the victory by scoring Boston’s final 12 points.
James finished with 22 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists before exiting in the fourth quarter. Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 34 points and eight rebounds in his first game in Boston since the Celtics defeated Dallas in the 2024 NBA Finals.
Boston’s defense played a key role, holding the Lakers to 21% shooting in the third quarter while forcing six turnovers. Jrue Holiday returned after missing four games with a finger injury, contributing seven points, five rebounds, and one assist. Kristaps Porzingis remained sidelined due to illness.
Los Angeles struggled with offensive consistency, particularly in the third quarter, where they managed just 13 points. Austin Reaves added 16 points, while Dorian Finney-Smith and Jarred Vanderbilt combined for only 12.
Despite their shooting struggles, the Lakers remained competitive behind Doncic’s efforts. However, his frustration grew after an inadvertent knee to the head from Horford during a fast-break collision. No foul was called, but Doncic made his displeasure clear.
Boston’s lead peaked in the second half as Tatum took over, scoring in multiple ways, including a deep three-pointer that extended the advantage to double digits. The Lakers responded with a 10-0 run early in the fourth before Tatum and Brown took control in the final minutes.
Brown’s aggressive drives and Tatum’s ability to draw fouls helped keep Los Angeles at bay. Tatum went 10-of-12 from the free-throw line, while Boston shot 72% as a team from the stripe.
Defensively, the Celtics limited the Lakers’ three-point shooting to 35% while forcing 12 turnovers. Boston’s frontcourt, led by Horford and Luke Kornet, also won the rebounding battle 43-45, preventing second-chance opportunities for Los Angeles.
Doncic shouldered the offensive load for the Lakers, shooting 11-of-22 from the field, but turnovers and a lack of offensive rhythm hurt their comeback bid. The loss ended Los Angeles’ eight-game home winning streak.
Next, the Celtics will look to extend their winning streak as they face another playoff contender, while the Lakers will need to regroup after James’ injury. His status moving forward remains uncertain, and Los Angeles will likely rely more on Doncic and Reaves in upcoming games.
