NBA Basketball
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| 5:30 PM PT6:30 PM MT7:30 PM CT8:30 PM ET1:30 GMT9:30 6:30 PM MST8:30 PM EST5:30 UAE (+1)02:3020:30 ET7:30 PM CTNaN:� , January 28, 2023 TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts Attendance: 19,156 |
Anthony Davis adds to star power as Lakers visit Celtics
Los Angeles Lakers at Boston Celtics
- The first matchup this season between the Lakers and Celtics was a 122-118 overtime win for Boston in Los Angeles, where Anthony Davis scored 37 points and Lebron James scored 33 points. This is only the second occurrence where Davis and James both scored at least 30 points and the Lakers lost (October 19. 2021 vs. Warriors).
- The Lakers recorded 12 steals and nine blocked shots in their win over the Spurs Wednesday. The 21 combined blocks and steals were the most by the Lakers this season, eclipsing their previous high of 18 (done twice).
- In the win against the Spurs, Anthony Davis returned to the lineup after missing 20 games with injury and posted 21 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots. With him in the lineup, the Lakers have a 98-66 record (.598) and hold opponents to 109.5 points per game compared to a 52-58 record (.473) and 114.5 points per game allowed without him.
- The Celtics lost in overtime to the Knicks, 120-117, at home on Thursday. The Celtics are now 3-4 (.429) in games decided by three points or less, despite having the best record in the NBA (35-15).
- Jayson Tatum scored 35 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in the loss to the Knicks. Since the beginning of last season, the Celtics were previously 8-0 when Tatum had at least 35 points and 10 rebounds.
- Tatum had 44 points in the win over the Lakers earlier this season. Since the 2019-20 season, Tatum is averaging 32.4 points against the Lakers, his second highest against any opponent (Minnesota, 34.2).
Two of the NBA's marquee players will face each other Saturday night when Jayson Tatum and the slumping Boston Celtics play LeBron James and the visiting Los Angeles Lakers.
On Thursday, Tatum and James were announced as starters for this year's NBA All-Star Game, which will be played Feb. 19 in Salt Lake City. James is averaging 29.9 points, 8.5 rebounds and 7-0 assists per game. Tatum is averaging 31.1 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists per contest.
Saturday night's game will be the second meeting between the teams this season. Tatum scored a game-high 44 points to go along with nine rebounds and six assists when the Celtics went to Los Angeles and beat the Lakers 122-118 in overtime on Dec. 13. Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 37 points and 12 rebounds. James finished with 33 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.
The Celtics are coming off Thursday night's 120-117 overtime loss to the visiting New York Knicks. That extended Boston's losing streak to three games.
The Celtics trailed by one when Boston's Jaylen Brown went to the free-throw line with 7.6 seconds remaining in overtime, but he missed both shots. Brown made each of his five free-throw attempts in the game up to that point.
"Just gotta be better, to be honest," Brown said. "(It) was just a rough game, and I'm a better basketball player than I played (Thursday). Those two missed free throws kind of embodied the whole game. Didn't really get going. Didn't give my team enough energy to win. And that's what happens when you don't come out and give your best. I'll be better."
"Everybody needs a pick-me-up," Tatum added. "But we've got the utmost confidence in (Brown). I can't bet on NBA games, but I would bet everything I got (that) if he was in that situation again, he would knock them both down. So, just short-term memory, move on, and get ready for Saturday."
Boston played without starting point guard Marcus Smart, who will miss his fourth straight game on Saturday due to a right ankle sprain.
The Lakers got a boost when Davis returned to the court and scored 21 points in 26 minutes during Wednesday's 113-104 victory over San Antonio. Davis, who missed nearly six weeks with an injured right foot, also had 12 rebounds and four blocked shots.
It was the first time Davis has come off the bench in a game since 2013.
"I was kind of just testing the water," Davis said. "Even though I've been playing pick-up and things, you can control that pace. In real games you can't.
"Foot is fine. Ankle is fine. Body feels good."
Rui Hachimura, who was acquired in a trade with the Washington Wizards earlier this week, also made his debut for the Lakers on Wednesday. He scored 12 points in 22 minutes.
The Lakers sent guard Kendrick Nunn and three second-round draft picks to Washington for Hachimura, who was the No. 9 selection in the 2019 NBA draft.
"(Hachimura) can really, really help us on both ends of the floor," Davis said. "Obviously, him getting acclimated with the team is going to take time, but (Wednesday) it looked like he was able to fit in really well."
--Field Level Media
Updated January 28, 2023
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