Los Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent reflected on Friday night’s 126-105 loss to the Boston Celtics at TD Garden, noting the team’s struggle to contain Boston’s early shooting.
“Boston’s been doing that for years, coming out in the first quarter and getting hot… you dig yourself a hole, and it’s hard to come back out of,” Vincent said.
He highlighted the team’s effort to stay competitive despite falling behind. “It’s good to say we won the last three quarters, but obviously we lost the game… we stayed true to our process and kept working,” he added.
Vincent acknowledged the impact of missing key teammates LeBron James and Luka Doncic. “If we could be whole, that’d be amazing… if not, it’s next man up and we got to find a way to get a win,” he said, emphasizing the importance of avoiding consecutive losses.
Austin Reaves’ scoring performance drew praise from Vincent, who described him as a consistent spark. “He’s been a spark for us in a number of ways… we need him to be aggressive… we rely on him night in and night out,” Vincent said, noting Reaves’ 36-point effort in the absence of the team’s stars.
On maintaining physicality without Marcus Smart, Vincent stressed shared responsibility. “All five on the court need to be physical… whoever is out there needs to do that… that’s the standard we’re setting for Laker basketball,” he said.
Boston dominated early, led by Jaylen Brown’s 30 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists. Derrick White added 19 points, including five three-pointers, while Jordan Walsh scored 17 as the Celtics hit a season-high 24 threes.
The Lakers struggled to keep pace despite strong individual efforts. Reaves scored 36 points with eight assists, and Vincent added 18 points, but the supporting cast was limited. Rui Hachimura contributed 13 points, and Deandre Ayton grabbed 10 rebounds.
Boston forced 14 turnovers and converted them into fast-break opportunities, building a 29-point lead in the second quarter. Despite a late Lakers push, the Celtics quickly restored a 20-plus point margin to secure the rout.
Los Angeles (16-6) will return home to face Philadelphia on Sunday, aiming to bounce back from a double-digit loss. Boston (14-9) heads to Toronto, seeking to extend its four-game winning streak and maintain momentum behind efficient shooting and balanced scoring.
