Everything you need to know about the Celtics' win over the Lakers with BSJ insight and analysis
Box Score
HEADLINES
Celtics snap three-game losing streak with a statement win: The doubters were forming about this Celtics squad in the midst of a three-game losing streak and six losses over the last eight games. Against the NBA’s hottest team (winners of 10 over the last 11), the Celtics came up with quite the response. Jayson Tatum had a game-high 27 points to lead five different Celtics in double figures to hand the Lakers their biggest loss of the season in a 139-107 victory. Enes Kanter provided a huge boost off the bench with 18 points and 11 rebounds while Jaylen Brown and Kemba Walker both added 20 points in their return to the lineup as the C’s shot a scorching hot 55.9 percent from the field and 47 percent from 3-point range in their most impressive victory of the year.
Kemba Walker gets first-ever win over LeBron: Walker showed no signs of injury in his return from a one-game absence with a sore knee as he posted 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field along with a game-high seven assists. His first taste of the Celtics-Lakers rivalry also gave him his first win of his lengthy NBA career against the LeBron, breaking a 0-28 slide that lasted throughout his entire tenure with the Hornets against the King.
Celtics play their best game since Christmas: The Celtics have had some impressive wins here and there over the last few weeks but nowhere close to this level of competition. The Lakers had a squad that was at full strength (although Anthony Davis was on a minutes limit) and it didn't matter. The Celtics were hungrier, played with plenty of aggression and effort and got everyone involved while turning this game into glorified garbage time by the closing minutes of the third quarter. We haven't seen that level of dominance from this Christmas and it should quiet any people questioning whether they can be legitimate contenders in the East if they have this group at full strength.
TURNING POINT
The Celtics fought back from an 8-0 run almost immediately out of the gate to erase the lead by midway through the first quarter. They broke things open a bit midway through the first half with a 13-2 run to seize control of the game behind the hot scoring of Kanter and Tatum.
TWO UP
Enes Kanter: After a week full of underwhelming efforts, Kanter bounced back with his best half of the year against LeBron James and Co. The big man erupted for a game-high 18 points and eight rebounds in the first half alone with six of those boards coming on the offensive end to help get Boston 20 second-chance points before intermission.
Jayson Tatum: The swingman strengthened his All-Star case on a national stage with 15 points against the Lakers in the first half in 15 minutes. He was red-hot from 3-point range (3-of-4) early before hitting his game high 27 points
TWO DOWN
Slow starts: It didn’t take them long to respond but the Celtics fell behind 8-0 in this one, including giving up maybe the fastest alley-top in NBA history after the opening tip.
Celtics rookies: With Brown and Walker back healthy, Stevens elected to tighten up his rotation after seeing some lackluster play in the past few weeks. Williams and Green only got off the bench in garbage time while Brad Wanamaker saw his second DNP-CD before the fourth quarter of the year.
TOP PLAY
Jaylen pic.twitter.com/p4jVIr7oVm
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) January 21, 2020
TWO TAKES B-ROBB WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER
Brad Stevens tightened things up in the rotation at the right time: The Celtics have a unique roster that’s loaded with rookie and borderline NBA players. Against the West’s best team with a mostly healthy roster intact for the first time in weeks, Stevens treated this contest like a playoff game when it comes to rotation. He played an eight-man rotation for one of the first times all season and stuck with an experienced defender that he trusted (Semi Ojeleye) off the bench. With Brad Wanamaker struggling on offense and Javonte Green/Grant Williams making costly defensive mistakes over the past losing streak, Stevens handed their minutes to Ojeleye and Kanter in the midst of a big rebounding night. It was the right move against a Lakers team that was stacked with size but limited 3-point shooting threats.
The level of effort difference in this game was noticeable from the Celtics: The Celtics are in the midst of a brutal stretch but the level of second effort and attention to detail was jarring in this one after Stevens got this group’s attention with a lengthy film session on Sunday. Despite falling behind early yet again, the C’s aggression was constant and relentless in this one between the entire eight-man rotation. They pounded the offensive glass when shots weren’t falling, they made second, third and fourth efforts to rotate and contest shooters on the perimeter and did not settle for jumpers despite facing a formidable Laker frontline. The Lakers clearly weren’t ready for the sense of urgency the Lakers were willing to bring but this is a type of performance that made people wonder if this team was a true contender early in the season. They hadn’t found that mojo in a while for various reasons (injuries, fatigue, effort) but it was clear tonight that it hadn’t dissipated.