LOS ANGELES — In a display of exceptional teamwork, the Boston Celtics, led by Kristaps Porzingis, defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 126-115 on Christmas Day. Porzingis tallied 28 points and 11 rebounds, with all Celtics starters scoring at least 18 points.
Jayson Tatum contributed 25 points, while Jaylen Brown and Derrick White added 19 and 18 points, respectively. White also dished out 11 assists. Jrue Holiday’s 18 points and seven assists further exemplified Boston’s cohesive play, which has led them to win 12 of their last 14 games.
Anthony Davis was the standout for the Lakers, scoring a game-high 40 points along with 13 rebounds. LeBron James added 16 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. Despite Davis’ efforts, the Lakers have struggled lately, losing six of their last eight games since their In-Season Tournament victory.
James acknowledged the Lakers’ current health and performance issues, emphasizing the need for improvement to compete with top teams.
This game marked the third Christmas Day meeting between the two iconic franchises, with the Lakers winning in 2008 and the Minneapolis Lakers triumphing in 1951.
The Celtics set the tone early, scoring the first 12 points of the game and leading by as many as 18 in the first quarter. Boston regained the lead swiftly in the third quarter after briefly trailing, and effectively maintained their advantage in the final quarter.
Porzingis noted that despite the win, the Celtics could have been even more dominant with better shooting from beyond the arc, finishing 13 of 42 (31%) on three-point attempts.
Lakers coach Darvin Ham pointed out various areas of concern, including transition defense, rebounding, and turnovers. Davis reflected on the small mistakes, like his missed free throw in the third quarter, which he felt had a significant impact on the game’s outcome.
Both teams experienced a scare when Brown and James collided in the second quarter, but both players returned to continue the game.
Looking ahead, the Celtics will host Detroit on Thursday, while the Lakers will welcome Charlotte on the same day.
