The Jays mix for 71 factors, Celtics beat LA 111-101

Coming off of a win in opposition to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Celtics confronted off in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers within the latest chapter of their historic rivalry. This was the primary sport the Celtics confronted the Lakers with Luka Doncic and similar to the NBA Finals, Boston took care of enterprise, profitable 111-101 over LA.

Jayson Tatum led the way in which for the Celtics with 40 factors, 12 rebounds, and eight assists on 12-28 capturing whereas Jaylen Brown chipped in with 31 factors and 6 rebounds on 13-25 capturing. Though Luka Doncic completed with 34 factors, it was clear the Celtics had been head and shoulders above the Lakers on this sport.

Boston’s protection was the story of the evening as they pressured 9 steals and had 5 blocks in opposition to LA led by Al Horford who was the very best defender on Luka Doncic and LeBron James. Their protection was at it’s peak within the third quarter once they held the Lakers to solely 13 factors in whole. The Jays had been capable of assault Doncic on the offensive finish and it regarded actually much like the NBA Finals.

Photograph by Brian Babineau/NBAE through Getty Photos

The Lakers began the sport on a 7-0 till the Celtics scored their first basket on a Jaylen Brown fadeaway. All 5 gamers on LA scored to open the sport whereas it took Boston slightly bit to get going after a 2-7 begin to the sport capturing.

Then the threes began falling for the Celtics halfway by way of the primary quarter as an 11-3 capped off by a Jaylen Brown steal on Luka Doncic resulting in an Al Horford dunk, tied the sport and compelled the Lakers to name a timeout.

The Celtics protection had Doncic struggling out of the timeout as a block by Payton Pritchard and steal by Al Horford on again to again performs led to straightforward baskets for Boston. After a chippy finish to the quarter between Jordan Goodwin and Jayson Tatum as they jawed forwards and backwards and each traded threes, the sport was tied 33-33.

Brown (10 factors) and Tatum (13 factors) mixed for 23 of the Celtics 33 factors within the first quarter whereas Dorian Finney-Smith led the Lakers with 8 factors. Boston shot very well within the first quarter going 54% from the sector and 66.7% from three however allowed LA to shoot 56.5% from the sector and 50% from three.

Each groups defensive depth began to ramp as much as start the second quarter as baskets had been onerous to come back by. LeBron James and Jayson Tatum each made some spectacular performs halfway by way of the second quarter however neither staff was capable of acquire a lot momentum because the lead went forwards and backwards.

Doncic began to get sizzling for the Lakers as he scored 7 straight factors for the Lakers as Brown was struggling to get any calls. Probably the most egregious being a play the place Brown went up for a layup as Doncic threw his face into the play on protection. It was known as an offense foul and though it acquired overturned, Brown ended receiving a technical foul.

Boston began to seek out their offense once more after the assessment, a 10-2 run completed off by an emphatic Jayson Tatum slam on the buzzer, gave the Celtics a 58-54 lead going into halftime.

Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 22 factors on 8-16 capturing whereas LeBron James led the Lakers with 14 factors. Jaylen Brown had 16 factors on 7-15 capturing and performed some unimaginable protection on Luka Doncic who completed with 11 factors on 3-8 capturing.

The Celtics completed the primary half capturing 48% from the sector and 41% from three and compelled 4 steals on the Lakers as their protection locked in. Al Horford performed some nice protection within the first half as on virtually each possession he was getting switched on to LeBron and Luke and held his personal.

Brown and Tatum got here out aggressive to start out the third quarter as they attacked Doncic on protection on again to again performs as Boston continued to assault LA’s paint protection. The Celtics offense continued to click on on all cylinders as they opened up a 19-2 run within the first 6 minutes of the quarter.

From the two:16 mark of the second quarter to the 5:09 mark of the third quarter, the Celtics went on a 32-6 run as they opened up a 22 level lead on the Lakers.

The Celtics protection continued to be anchored by Al Horford as he clamped Luka Doncic on virtually each possession. Horford’s power on protection began to unfold to the remainder of the staff as Jayson Tatum made an unimaginable block on Doncic in addition to Payton Pritchard blocking Jordan Goodwin and forcing a cost on again to again performs.

A deep three by Tatum on the finish of the quarter made it a 20 level sport going into the fourth quarter because the Celtics led the Lakers 87-67. Boston’s protection was suffocating within the third quarter as LA solely scored 13 factors. The Lakers had been held to 5-23 capturing from the sector and 1-10 capturing from three whereas the Celtics pressured 6 turnovers.

The Lakers began to chip away on the Celtics to start the fourth quarter as they opened up a 16-2 run to chop the lead from 20 factors to 7. Boston’s offense began to get chilly on the worst attainable time and turned the ball over which allowed LA to get again within the sport.

LA continued to make pictures out of a timeout and after a Dalton Knect three and Luke Doncic free throws, the Lakers minimize the Celtics result in 4 with 5 minuets left. Derrick White hit three free throws and Doncic hit one other three in response. Jaylen Brown went down on the opposite finish and splashed a deep three over Doncic to maintain the Celtics lead afloat.

LeBron James was dominated out with a groin pressure with three minutes to go because the Lakers had been trying a comeback. That’s when the Jays began to take over as a Tatum three and Brown layup put the nails within the Lakers’ coffin and sealed a win for the Celtics.