LOS ANGELES — After the Lakers' 14-point loss to the Clippers last Sunday, LeBron James said the team needed to play “close-to-perfect basketball” based on how the team is constructed. In Thursday night’s 117-96 win over the Celtics, they did just that.
"I thought that was one of, if not our best games, in terms of executing our defensive game plan,” head coach JJ Redick said.
The Lakers' fourth win in their last five games improves their record to 24-18 and 16-6 this season at Crypto.com Arena. They sit a half-game ahead of the Clippers for fifth in the West.
Here are some takeaways from the Lakers' win over the Celtics:
Six Scorers in Double Figures
A high-level, consistent effort was ideal for the Lakers to come out with a win against the defending champs, who have the NBA’s third-best record (second in the East). The Lakers' effort led to six players scoring in double figures.
The Lakers had three players finish with 20 or more points, with Anthony Davis leading the way with a team-high 24 points (eight rebounds). He also led the team in blocks with three on the night.
LeBron James, who had two right one-handed dunks that roared the home crowd, finished with a 20-point, 14-assist double-double.
Austin Reaves finished second on the team with 23 points, hitting four of eight 3-pointers and totaling 53.8% from the field.
Dalton Knecht and Gabe Vincent were the highest bench scorers with seven 3-pointers between the two guards. Knecht scored 13 points in 13 minutes of action on three for four from deep. Vincent had 12 points (four for seven from 3) in 25 minutes with a team-high plus 22 plus/minus.
Rui Hachimura rounded out the six with 10 points and seven rebounds in 27 minutes.
Hot Shooting Night Against High-Volume Shooting Team
The Celtics lead the NBA in attempted threes per game (48.9), and the Lakers dared Boston to reach their high volume from 3-point range.
It came at a price for the Celtics, shooting well below their season average (36.3%) at the end of the third quarter, shooting 31%, 10-for-32. At halftime, Boston was six for 20 (30%) from deep.
The Lakers blended that game plan with an efficient shooting night from behind the arc and in the paint, hitting 42.9% (15-for-35) of their shots from 3 and 47% overall from the floor.
Defensive Effort in the First Half and Third Quarter
The Lakers' defensive energy to start the game helped hold the Celtics to 23 points in the first quarter, the lowest they've scored all season in the opening quarter.
“[This win] showed us that we can take a game plan and execute it,” said James. “Our coaches gave us a game plan that they felt was the best, and we executed as a team.”
Jayson Tatum, who is fifth (27.2) in the NBA in scoring, was held to one point in the first quarter and eight points at halftime.
The Lakers outscored the Celtics 67-48 in the first two quarters, and their intensity and, more importantly, consistency, continued in the third quarter despite a slow start.
Boston started the second half on a 14-7 run, but after a needed timeout to cut their momentum, the Lakers went on a 7-2 run that carried over to the fourth.
L.A. went 12-2 to start the fourth and reached their biggest lead (28) of the game, which forced Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla to raise the white flag and empty his bench midway in the quarter.
Next Game
The Lakers' next six games will be on the road, starting in San Francisco against the Warriors on Jan. 25 and ending in Inglewood on Feb. 4 against the Clippers for the second matchup versus the cross-town rival this season.
The Warriors will enter the matchup coming off a 25-point win over Chicago. They will be without four-time all-star Draymond Green, who is dealing with a strained left calf.
