BOSTON – The Boston Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 111-89 on Sunday night, a game highlighted by a dominant performance from the Celtics and a physical contest that saw Boston center Neemias Queta dunk over Lakers star Luka Dončić.
The Celtics, playing without Jayson Tatum who remains sidelined with a torn Achilles suffered last season, controlled the game after a tightly contested first quarter. The Lakers, coming off a Friday night win against the Clippers, were outscored 83-61 after the opening period.
Dončić finished with 25 points in 33 minutes, shooting 9-of-22 from the field. He also recorded five rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Despite his scoring, Dončić acknowledged the team’s offensive struggles, stating, “I think they were playing physical. They were playing great defense. We need better offense. We scored 89 points. That’s not like us so we got to be better.”
The Celtics’ defense proved particularly effective, limiting the Lakers to their second-lowest point total of the season. Lakers head coach JJ Redick noted the unusual nature of the offensive output, stating that the team’s defense was “good enough to win,” but the offense was “awful.”
Queta’s dunk over Dončić in the first quarter energized the Celtics and quickly became a focal point of the game. Queta, who has stepped into a starting role following the offseason departures of Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis, and Luke Kornet, is averaging 9.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks heading into Sunday’s game. Despite the acquisition of Nikola Vucevic at the trade deadline, Queta has maintained his starting position.
The win for Boston further solidifies their position in the Eastern Conference, while the loss drops the Lakers to fifth in the Western Conference. Former Lakers executive Pat Riley was in attendance at the game, observing the matchup between the two storied franchises.
The Celtics’ defensive strategy, which included strong perimeter pressure and a deep drop coverage, appeared to disrupt the Lakers’ offensive rhythm. Dončić emphasized the need to “match the physicality” of the Celtics, particularly on the defensive finish.
