By Darryl Harding Sr-
The Celtics have not lost very many games at home this season, but it seems like when they do lose it is to a Western Conference team.
Taking their first home loss to the Denver Nuggets, breaking a 20-game home winning streak, and then getting lambasted by the Clippers, fans would think that a short-handed Lakers team, missing LeBron James and Anthony Davis, their two best players, would chalk up an easy victory from a team that rarely allows visitors to flourish.
In retrospect who needs LeBron and AD when players like Austin Reeves can come in with a career night (32 pts). With an atrocious nine turnovers in the first quarter the Celtics ushered the Lakers into controlling and continuing to dominate the game.
Double doubles from Jackson Hayes, 10 rebounds and 16 points, and D’Angelo Russell, 14 assists and 16 points, only added to the Celtics woes and their Western rivals proceeded to govern the stat column. Shooting 52.8% from the three-point line, Austin Reeves, compiled career high stats in the game of his life.
With Jaylen Brown and Derrick White combining for 8-23 from the field, it was difficult for the Celtics to muster up the energy to close the gap and Lakers triumphs with a final of 114-105.
Although this is just one game, the fact that a short-handed Lakers team easily handled the Celtics, has fans worrying about who, if they’re able to make it to the finals, will we face In the West.
The Lakers, now even at 25-25 for the season, will travel to New York to face the Knicks Saturday at 8:30 p.m. while the Celtics’ NBA best 37-12, will host the Grizzlies Sunday at 6:00 p.m.