The Los Angeles Lakers saw their eight-game winning streak snapped as they fell 111-101 to the Boston Celtics on Saturday night, undone by a disastrous third quarter and the loss of LeBron James to a strained groin.
James finished with 22 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists before exiting midway through the fourth quarter, leaving the Lakers struggling to close the gap. Luka Doncic scored 34 points and grabbed eight rebounds in his first game in Boston since last season’s NBA Finals, but Los Angeles couldn’t overcome Boston’s stifling defense.
The Lakers shot just 21% in the third quarter (5 of 23) and committed six turnovers, watching a once-manageable deficit balloon to 20 points. Despite a late push to cut the lead to single digits, the Lakers couldn’t contain Jayson Tatum, who poured in 40 points, and Jaylen Brown, who added 31, as the Celtics sealed their fourth straight win.
The loss exposed lingering issues with offensive cohesion for the Lakers, particularly in the third quarter, as they continue to adjust to playing with Doncic. Let’s provide the ratings for every Lakers player.
Luka Doncic: A+
Stats: 34 PTS, 8 REB (1 OREB, 7 DREB), 3 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 5 TO, 2 PF, 11-22 FG, 5-10 3PT, 7-8 FT, -19, 37 MIN
Doncic was the Lakers’ offensive engine, scoring 34 points on 11-of-22 shooting while adding eight rebounds and three assists. His 5-of-10 shooting from deep kept Los Angeles within striking distance, but his five turnovers highlighted some forced passes against Boston’s aggressive defense. While his -19 plus-minus was concerning, it reflected the team’s overall struggles rather than his individual performance, as Doncic was the primary reason the game remained competitive.
LeBron James: A
Stats: 22 PTS, 14 REB (2 OREB, 12 DREB), 9 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 3 PF, 11-23 FG, 0-6 3PT, 0-3 FT, -11, 35 MIN
LeBron was one assist shy of a triple-double, posting 22 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists before exiting with a strained groin. He was efficient inside the arc (11-of-17) but missed all six of his three-point attempts and struggled at the line (0-of-3). His departure in the fourth quarter exposed the Lakers’ lack of secondary playmaking. Despite the loss, LeBron’s ability to facilitate and control the tempo was evident, even if his -11 plus-minus hinted at the defensive challenges the team faced.
Austin Reaves: B-
Stats: 16 PTS, 3 REB (1 OREB, 2 DREB), 2 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 5-12 FG, 4-7 3PT, 2-2 FT, -12, 39 MIN
Reaves provided a scoring punch with 16 points on 5-of-12 shooting, including 4-of-7 from three-point range. His willingness to take and make big shots was encouraging, but he struggled to create off the dribble, recording only two assists. Defensively, he had a steal but was frequently targeted by Boston’s wings, contributing to his -12 plus-minus. While his shooting was a positive, Reaves’ inability to diversify his offensive game limited his impact.
Dalton Knecht: C+
Stats: 9 PTS, 5 REB (1 OREB, 4 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 4-6 FG, 1-3 3PT, 0-0 FT, +9, 24 MIN
Knecht’s efficiency was a positive for the Lakers, scoring nine points on 4-of-6 shooting while grabbing five rebounds. His ability to finish inside and hit a three-pointer helped the Lakers close the gap in the second half. Despite a +9 plus-minus, his limited defensive impact and inability to generate offense outside of catch-and-shoot situations kept his overall influence modest. Knecht’s performance was solid but unspectacular, showing he can be a reliable role player when needed.
Dorian Finney-Smith: C+
Stats: 8 PTS, 4 REB (0 OREB, 4 DREB), 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 5 PF, 3-8 FG, 2-7 3PT, 0-0 FT, -10, 36 MIN
Finney-Smith’s night was a mixed bag as he scored eight points on 3-of-8 shooting and grabbed four rebounds. While he managed to hit two three-pointers, his 2-of-7 performance from beyond the arc hurt the Lakers’ spacing. Defensively, he contributed a steal but struggled to contain Boston’s wings, evidenced by his -10 plus-minus. His five fouls limited his aggressiveness, and he failed to make a significant impact outside of his shooting.
Jarred Vanderbilt: C+
Stats: 4 PTS, 8 REB (2 OREB, 6 DREB), 2 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 4 PF, 2-5 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-1 FT, 0, 29 MIN
Vanderbilt’s energy on the boards was a bright spot, as he pulled down eight rebounds and added two assists and two steals. However, his offensive game remained limited, finishing with just four points on 2-of-5 shooting. Vanderbilt’s defensive versatility was useful, but his inability to score consistently or stretch the floor made it easier for Boston to pack the paint. His zero plus-minus suggests he was neither a liability nor a significant asset in this matchup.
Jordan Goodwin: C
Stats: 6 PTS, 3 REB (2 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 0 PF, 2-6 FG, 2-3 3PT, 0-0 FT, +6, 16 MIN
Goodwin provided a minor lift off the bench with six points on 2-of-6 shooting, including two three-pointers. His three rebounds, one steal, and +6 plus-minus in 16 minutes suggest he was effective in short bursts. However, his two turnovers and limited playmaking underscored the need for more consistent contributions if he hopes to earn a larger role.
Gabe Vincent: D
Stats: 2 PTS, 0 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 1-4 FG, 0-3 3PT, 0-0 FT, -18, 19 MIN
Vincent struggled mightily, scoring just two points on 1-of-4 shooting, including 0-of-3 from beyond the arc. His -18 plus-minus was the worst on the team, reflecting his defensive vulnerabilities and inability to provide a spark off the bench. With only one assist and a turnover in 19 minutes, Vincent’s lack of production on both ends of the floor was a major concern for the Lakers.
Trey Jemison III: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 0-1 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +5, 6 MIN
Jemison’s impact was minimal, playing just six minutes without recording any significant stats apart from a single missed shot. His +5 plus-minus suggests he didn’t hurt the team during his brief stint, but his lack of contribution offensively or defensively made him a non-factor in the outcome.
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