The Los Angeles Lakers, known for their explosive offense led by LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves, faced a defensive masterclass from the Boston Celtics on Sunday. The Celtics dominated with a 111-89 victory at Crypto.com Arena, showcasing their ability to stifle even the most potent offenses.
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla shared insights into their strategy postgame. "You’re never going to stop them completely," Mazzulla acknowledged.
"It's about deciding what you can live with and what you can take away. Everyone asks how you defend them, but it's about attacking them."
The Celtics focused on minimizing easy opportunities for the Lakers. They committed 14 turnovers, but crucially, eight were dead-ball turnovers, preventing the Lakers from capitalizing on fast breaks and transition threes. Mazzulla praised his team for playing disciplined, efficient basketball, noting that the Lakers managed just one dunk, far below their average of five.
The Lakers struggled offensively, shooting 39.1% from the field and 30.0% from three-point range, marking their second-lowest shooting performance of the season. Despite the presence of their star trio, the Lakers couldn't find their rhythm.
Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 25 points, hitting a couple of his signature step-back threes. However, the Celtics limited his success near the basket, holding him to 5-15 on two-pointers and just six free throw attempts.
LeBron James contributed 20 points, starting strong but cooling off as the game progressed. He found some success in the third quarter but was otherwise contained.
Austin Reaves had a challenging night, managing only 15 points and struggling on both ends of the floor. This was a stark contrast to his 36-point performance in their previous matchup against the Celtics.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick expressed disappointment with the team's offensive execution, despite being satisfied with their defensive effort. The loss dropped the Lakers to 34-22, keeping them in fifth place in the West instead of climbing to third.
Looking ahead, the Lakers will face the Orlando Magic next at Crypto.com Arena, while the Celtics prepare to take on the Phoenix Suns at the Mortgage Matchup Center.