Celtics are shocked that the Lakers beat them not LeBron James or Anthony Davis: “We’re all talented players”
After the Los Angeles Lakers lost in Atlanta on Tuesday, LeBron James was asked what he planned to tell his team before big games against the Boston Celtics or the New York Knicks. His answer was simple.
James (left ankle peroneal tendinopathy) or Anthony Davis (bilateral Achilles tendinopathy and left hip spasm) were ruled out five hours before the game.
With only nine players, the Lakers beat the Celtics 113–105 at TD Garden on Thursday night.
James and Davis are both All-Stars for the Lakers, and James is pleading for weeks for their supporting cast to help them keep up in the Western Conference playoff race.
The two most important players in the team’s history watched from the bench as they finally got what they wanted. Los Angeles shocked the Celtics from Boston 114-105 on Thursday night without its star players.
Austin Reaves scored 32 points, which was the highest number of points scored in a season, and made seven 3-pointers, which was the most in his career.
“All of us are good players.” “This was your chance to show the world what you can do,” Reaves said.
“Before the game, we come jointly and was like, ‘Look, the least we have to do is we can do to get out there and play as well as we can and live in the results.”
James and Davis are both All-Stars for the Lakers, and James has been pleading for weeks for their supporting cast to help them keep up in the Western Conference playoff race.
The two most important players in the team’s history watched from the bench as they finally got what they wanted. “All of us are good players.” “This was your chance to show everybody what you can do,” Reaves said.
Los Angeles shocked the Boston Celtics 114-105 on Thursday night without its star players. Austin Reaves scored 32 points, which was the highest number of points scored in a season, and made seven 3-pointers, which was the most in his career.
“We got together before the game and said, ‘Look, the least we can do is go out there and play as effectively as we can and deal with the results.'”
James was ruled out because of an injury to his left ankle, and Davis was ruled out because of an issue with his Achilles tendon and left hip spasms.
The nationally televised match between these longtime rivals was less exciting. The rest of the LA Lakers’ young team didn’t care that they thought the game was going to be an odd matchup.
Reaves made 7 out of 10 shots from longer range. He also missed one and was fouled, but he made each of the three free throws.
The Celtics are the best team in the NBA, but the Lakers held off their two-game losing streak by making 19 of 36 3-pointers.
Russell scored 16 points, dished out 14 assists, and grabbed 8 rebounds for the Lakers. Jaxson Hayes scored 16 points and grabbed 10 boards.
The Celtics had 15 turnovers and Jayson Tatum got 23 points. This is Boston’s third loss in five games at home since going 20-0 to start the season.
“It just takes place.” “There are times when we play bad basketball,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said.
“We can’t sit there and act like we deserve it to happen to us.” Things happen. We have to decide how to deal with it and get through it.
Big man Jarred Vanderbilt scored 10 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and stole three balls in 16 minutes.
During the last minute of the first half, he fell as he tried to get back on the court after Tatum stripped him. The team said he missed the rest of the match because his right foot hurt.
In the third quarter, the Celtics went on a 12–2 run that included four straight three-pointers that cut the lead to 77–71. Tatum got everyone on their feet during the surge when he dove to tie up Su Hachimura and force a jump ball.
Thursday was the first time this season that both James and Davis missed a game for Los Angeles. The Lakers started the day in ninth spot in the West standings.
The injuries are something Ham said before the game that both players have had all season. It’s not clear for how long either will be out. James has played in 44 of the 49 games this season. For Davis, he has played in 46 games.