Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves powered the Los Angeles Lakers to an impressive 117-96 victory over the Boston Celtics on Thursday night. Davis scored 24 points, while Reaves added 23 in a dominant performance that saw the Lakers pull away early and never look back. No doubt, Lakers fans are more than happy with this fantastic performance from their team.Â
LeBron James chipped in 20 points and 14 rebounds on the same day he was selected for the All-Star Game for an NBA-record 21st consecutive season. James also surpassed Hakeem Olajuwon for seventh place on the NBA’s all-time defensive rebounds list, reaching 9,720 after securing six boards early in the third quarter.
The Lakers came out firing, hitting 11 3-pointers in the first half to match their season high for any opening two quarters. Gabe Vincent tied his season high with four triples and finished with 12 points, as Los Angeles shot 15 of 35 from deep for the game.Â
A late first-quarter surge, capped by a James dunk with 8.9 seconds left, gave the Lakers a 34-23 lead and set the tone for the night. By the fourth quarter, the Lakers had stretched their advantage to 28 points.
Kristaps Porzingis led Boston with 22 points, while Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, who were also selected as All-Stars, added 17 and 16 points, respectively. The Celtics, coming off a hard-fought overtime win against the Clippers on Wednesday, struggled to find their rhythm in their third game in four days.
The Lakers’ victory marks their second straight win after a tough stretch in which they lost four of six games. Their sharp perimeter shooting and strong defensive effort against one of the league’s top teams highlighted their ability to control both ends of the floor. Let’s provide a grade for every Lakers player.Â
Anthony Davis: A
Stats: 24 PTS, 8 REB (2 OREB, 6 DREB), 3 AST, 1 STL, 3 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 9-18 FG, 0-1 3PT, 6-6 FT, +15, 31 MIN
Davis was a dominant force on both ends of the floor, leading the Lakers with 24 points on 9-of-18 shooting. He showcased his versatility with 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, and a steal, anchoring the Lakers’ defense. Davis also went a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line, consistently attacking the paint and staying aggressive throughout his 31 minutes on the court.
Austin Reaves: A
Stats: 23 PTS, 3 REB (0 OREB, 3 DREB), 6 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 7-13 FG, 4-8 3PT, 5-6 FT, +14, 33 MIN
Reaves was sensational, scoring 23 points on 7-of-13 shooting while draining 4 three-pointers. He added 6 assists and 3 rebounds, efficiently running the offense and finding open shots. Reaves’ perfect 5-of-6 performance at the free-throw line and his +14 plus/minus highlighted his impact on the game, providing a reliable scoring option and excellent ball movement.
LeBron James: A
Stats: 20 PTS, 14 REB (3 OREB, 11 DREB), 6 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 0 PF, 9-20 FG, 0-2 3PT, 2-2 FT, +7, 31 MIN
On a historic night, James delivered a stellar performance with 20 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 assists. He dominated the boards, particularly on defense with 11 rebounds, and made history by surpassing Hakeem Olajuwon on the all-time defensive rebounds list. Though his shooting efficiency dipped (9-of-20 FG, 0-for-2 from deep), his leadership and presence set the tone for the Lakers’ commanding victory.
Dalton Knecht: B
Stats: 13 PTS, 4 REB (0 OREB, 4 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 5-7 FG, 3-4 3PT, 0-0 FT, +3, 14 MIN
Knecht provided a spark off the bench, scoring 13 points in just 14 minutes. He shot 5-of-7 from the field, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, showcasing his ability to score efficiently. While his defensive contributions were limited, his scoring punch and +3 plus/minus highlighted his positive impact in limited minutes.
Gabe Vincent: B
Stats: 12 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 4 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 5 PF, 4-8 FG, 4-7 3PT, 0-0 FT, +22, 26 MIN
Vincent tied his season-high with 4 three-pointers, finishing with 12 points and 4 assists. Though he played only 26 minutes, his +22 plus/minus reflected his ability to contribute to the Lakers’ offensive flow. Despite limited rebounding and some foul trouble, his perimeter shooting was critical to the team’s early dominance.
Rui Hachimura: C+
Stats: 10 PTS, 7 REB (2 OREB, 5 DREB), 2 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 3-9 FG, 2-5 3PT, 2-2 FT, +12, 28 MIN
Hachimura had a mixed night, scoring 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting while grabbing 7 rebounds and dishing out 2 assists. He hit 2-of-5 from deep and was active defensively, recording a steal. However, his inconsistent shooting and lack of interior scoring limited his overall impact, though his +12 plus/minus showed he contributed in key moments.
Max Christie: C+
Stats: 6 PTS, 4 REB (0 OREB, 4 DREB), 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 1 PF, 2-6 FG, 2-6 3PT, 0-0 FT, +12, 29 MIN
Christie chipped in 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists in 29 minutes. He made both his baskets from beyond the arc but shot just 2-of-6 overall. While his offensive output was modest, Christie’s +12 plus/minus reflected his effort and contribution to the Lakers’ defensive energy and floor spacing.
Jaxson Hayes: C+
Stats: 5 PTS, 8 REB (1 OREB, 7 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 2-4 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-2 FT, +14, 14 MIN
Hayes was a strong presence on the boards, grabbing 8 rebounds in just 14 minutes while adding 5 points on 2-of-4 shooting. His hustle and activity on defense earned him a +14 plus/minus, but his lack of significant offensive contributions and shot-blocking presence limited his overall effectiveness.
Dorian Finney-Smith: C
Stats: 0 PTS, 4 REB (2 OREB, 2 DREB), 0 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 0-2 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-0 FT, +20, 20 MIN
Finney-Smith played 20 minutes and contributed defensively with 4 rebounds and 2 steals. He failed to score, missing both of his shot attempts, but his +20 plus/minus highlighted his defensive effort and ability to disrupt the Celtics’ rhythm.
Christian Koloko: N/A
Stats: 2 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 1-1 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -2, 4 MIN
Koloko saw only 4 minutes of action, scoring 2 points on his lone field-goal attempt. With no other statistical contributions, his performance was largely inconsequential, and his -2 plus/minus reflected limited impact.
Shake Milton: N/A
Stats: 2 PTS, 0 REB, 3 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 2-2 FT, -5, 3 MIN
Milton played just 3 minutes but managed to contribute 2 points and 3 assists. Though his time was brief, he showed good court vision and made the most of his opportunities, despite a -5 plus/minus.
Cam Reddish: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -5, 3 MIN
Reddish did not attempt a shot or register any statistical contributions in his 3 minutes of play. His -5 plus/minus reflected his limited impact on the game.
Bronny James: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-1 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -2, 4 MIN
Bronny played 4 minutes, missing his lone shot attempt and failing to register any other stats. His -2 plus/minus highlighted his minimal influence during his brief time on the court.
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