The Los Angeles Lakers have won the rematch against arch rivals from Boston. In the 117: 102 success, the Big Three towered over LeBron James, while the Celtics broke offensively after a good start and found no solutions in defense. After the break it was Russell Westbrook’s show.
Los Angeles Lakers (13-12) – Boston Celtics (13-12) 117:102 (BOXSCORE)
The playmaker scored 15 of his 24 points (9/16 FG, plus 11 assists) in the third quarter when the Lakers pulled away decisively. Westbrook found his way into the zone again and again and was symbolic of the defensive problems of the Celtics. The guests approved the Lakers 52 percent from the field and a whopping 66 points in the zone. LeBron James also benefited several times, but the 36-year-old also hit his jump throws and ended the game with 30 points (13/19 FG, 5 dimes).
Anthony Davis (17, 16 rebounds) still had some problems in defense at half time, but after the change he also made sure that the Lakers broke the rhythm of the guests. For the Celtics, Jayson Tatum (34, 13/22 FG) was the best scorer, but after a hot start the All-Star dived in the meantime. It was only in the fourth quarter that the forward topped up his points account a little.
Dennis Schröder, who was occasionally booed by the Lakers fans, played a game with ups and downs. The throw did not fall, but the German skilfully pulled a few fouls. 10 points (1/6 FG, 8/10 FT) and 5 assists were recorded in 32 minutes. Robert Williams (13) reduced after a strong first half, the same applied to Josh Richardson (11). Davis acted again as the center of the starting five, Lakers coach Frank Vogel avoided most of the time on a traditional five. Dwight Howard only played 9 minutes while DeAndre Jordan didn’t play at all. Jaylen Brown was still missing from the Celtics.
Lakers move away after the break thanks to Westbrook
The first minutes of the game belonged to Tatum, who picked up exactly where he had left off on the previous West Coast trip. In less than four minutes, the forward sank all five of his throws, including four triples. LeBron seemed to be taking this personally, the King hitting six of seven throws in a matter of minutes, while Boston countered with alley oops for Williams. After an entertaining first twelve minutes, the guests led by 33:31.
Schröder had not yet scored, but after determined drives he used his teammates again and again. Above all, Richardson benefited, so that the Celtics scored enough even without Tatum. For the Lakers, Carmelo Anthony brought relief, while Tatum put Westbrook on a poster. Boston attacked Davis from pick’n’roll most of the time and was surprisingly successful, also because Williams produced one highlight after the other. And yet the Lakers led to the break with 60:55, because the Celtics Defense let 56 percent out of the field and did not make a good impression.
And it stayed that way. In the attack, Marcus Smart and Tatum over-turned something, the Lakers punished consistently in transition. The guests had lost their rhythm for good, it was over five minutes before Boston even scored a field goal in the second half. The Lakers had the upper hand Westbrook performed in little dances after his first threesome. All of this happened during a 12-2 run, and the lead grew to 15 points in the meantime.
Tatum reared up again with 9 quick points. The forward could not do it alone, except for a three from Payton Pritchard nothing fell for the rest of the Celtics. A good 5 minutes before the end, Celtics coach Ime Udoka hoisted the white flag at -15 and took his starters off the field.
With the victory, the Lakers draw level with the Clippers again and now share fifth place in the west. The champion of 2020 is now going on a little road trip with the stops Memphis and “fear opponent” Oklahoma City. The Celtics, on the other hand, slide to the shared ninth place in the east, tomorrow it will continue in the same place against the Clippers before the long west coast trip in Phoenix is concluded.
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