Final: Celtics 107, Lakers 96

GAME: No. 12 of 82
WHO: Celtics (9-2) vs. Lakers (5-5)
WHEN:  8:00 EST
WHERE:  TD Garden
RADIO: 100.7 WZLX
TV: NBC Sports Boston, ESPN
BOX SCORE: NBA.COM

Projected Starting Lineups:

Celtics
PG: Kyrie Irving
SG: Jaylen Brown
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Marcus Morris
C: Aron Baynes

Inactive list:  Al Horford entered the league's concussion protocol on Wednesday and is out indefinitely. Gordon Hayward (leg) is out.

Lakers:

PG: Lonzo Ball
SG: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
SF: Brandon Ingram
PF: Kyle Kuzma
C: Brook Lopez

Inactive list: Larry Nance Jr. is out. Andrew Bogut (back) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (hip) are questionable.

THIRD QUARTER ANALYSIS

• Marcus Smart started the half in place of Tatum, who was ruled out for the game due to ankle soreness.


• Without Tatum and Horford, the C's offense and defense started to sputter. Aron Baynes (18 points through three) was the main source of offense with Kyrie Irving struggling with his jump shot


• Lakers continued to put plenty of pressure on the C's defense in transition, which resulted in plenty of easy looks at the basket. They have a lot of young guys who liked to run and the C's starting personnel just weren't matching up well.


• Lots of forced shots from Marcus Smart, who seemed to put a little too much pressure on himself to create.


• Some solid minutes from the second unit after the Lakers trimmed the lead down to 2. Theis remained active on both ends while Rozier/Ojeleye stepped up the defensive intensity.

• Some great minutes from the bench unit to start the second quarter. Daniel Theis picked up where Baynes left on the offensive glass.


• We've seen plenty of nice shooting from Semi Ojeleye already but he showed what he could do in dribble penetration as well, including a beautiful backdoor cut and reverse layup after Smart hit him with a behind the back pass.


• Easily the best game for Morris as a Celtic as he's scored 10 points in his first 12 minutes.


• A bit of sloppiness for the C's after they opened up a 21-point lead. Have allowed Lakers to get some easy looks in transition and from downtown, helping them trim it down to 6  towards the end of the frame.

• Kyrie Irving coming out of the gates very aggressive early against Lonzo Ball. He's been running him ragged around screens off the bal and in the pick-and-roll


• Aron Baynes with some nice work early on the offensive glass. Brook Lopez may be big but he's a below average defensive rebounder.


• Daniel Theis is the early beneficiary of Horford's absence. He gets early minutes for Aron Baynes and has looked sharp in them defensively and in the pick-and-roll.


• Marcus Morris made his first 3-point shot as a Celtic (started 0-for-5) on a buzzer beater from the corner. He continues to make tough shots, while missing wide open looks.


• No sign of the top-5 Lakers defense in this game. They look like the bottom five defense we saw last season.


• 19-5 run to end the quarter by the Celtics, including a buzzer beater by Rozier for 3.

• The team announced Al Horford entered the league's concussion protocol on Wednesday morning and won't be cleared to play until he passes through the league-mandated checkmark with no symptoms. Horford missed nine games with a concussion last season. He suffered the injury during Monday's win against the Hawks.


• With Horford out, look for increased minutes off the bench for Semi Ojeleye and Daniel Theis at the power forward and center spots specifically. Theis could see extended minutes tonight particularly trying to cover a stretch big like Brook Lopez.


• Lonzo Ball is one of only two full-time starters in the NBA shooting below 30 percent from the field through ten games.


• Make sure you check out my analysis of the 2018 Lakers pick and the Lakers start as a whole here: Is it time for Celtics fans to worry about the 2018 Lakers pick?