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0 On Thursday night, the Los Angeles Lakers caused an upset by beating the Boston Celtics 114-105 in a game that was anticipated to be a mismatch. Despite missing their two biggest stars, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers’ young roster stepped up to the challenge and delivered a remarkable performance.
Austin Reaves was the standout player of the game, scoring a season-high 32 points and hitting a career-high seven 3-pointers. He went 7 out of 10 from beyond the arc and was fouled on one of the misses, making all three free throws. The Lakers hit an impressive 19 of 36 3-pointers, which helped them hold off the NBA-leading Celtics and end their two-game losing streak.
D’Angelo Russell also had an impressive game, contributing 16 points, 14 assists, and eight rebounds. Jaxson Hayes added 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Lakers big man Jarred Vanderbilt had 10 points, seven rebounds, and three steals in just 16 minutes.
Although the Celtics had Jayson Tatum score 23 points, they had 15 turnovers and lost three of their last five games at home since starting the season 20-0 in TD Garden. Despite a 12-2 run in the third quarter that included four straight 3s, Boston never got closer than seven points in the fourth quarter.
The Lakers’ victory comes at a crucial time as they fight to keep pace in a tight Western Conference playoff race. LeBron James and Anthony Davis have been pleading for weeks for the Lakers’ supporting cast to provide them with some help. With the two franchise cornerstones watching from the bench, the Lakers finally got their wish.
James was ruled out because of a left ankle injury, while Davis was out because of an Achilles tendon issue and left hip spasms. This was the first time this season that both James and Davis have sat out the same game for Los Angeles. It is unclear how long either will be sidelined, but Lakers coach Ham said before the game that the injuries are things both players have dealt with throughout the season.
Reaves stated that there is no secret to what they need to do when James and Davis return. He emphasized that they need to continue to compete, give it their all on the defensive end, and avoid fouling much. If they can do that, the Lakers will be in a better position to succeed when James and Davis return.
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