Celtics Vs Lakers: Riley courtside as Celtics rout Lakers 111-89
The celtics vs lakers rivalry took center stage Sunday afternoon as the Boston Celtics beat the Los Angeles Lakers 111-89, a loss that arrived with Pat Riley sitting courtside after a statue-unveiling celebration outside Crypto. com Arena.
Riley’s statue, and a clear message to the Lakers
Pat Riley watched from courtside after a celebration for the unveiling of his statue on the Star Plaza outside Crypto. com Arena. The brains behind the Showtime Lakers guided the team to seven NBA Finals and four titles in nine seasons, and Sunday he became the first coach to get a statue. On the day his statue was unveiled outside Crypto. com Arena, the Showtime-era coach urged the Lakers to fight to create legacies worth chasing.
Offense falters as Celtics pull away
The Lakers, who entered the game shooting a league-best 50% from the field, saw their offense sag. Their shooting slipped to 36. 8% in the second quarter, and they finished 39. 1% for the game and 30% from three (9 for 30). It was the second time this season the Lakers scored in the 80s, and that also was a loss.
Celtics Vs Lakers: standout stats and late charge
Boston, listed at 37-19 entering the game, leaned on perimeter shooting—entering with a 42. 4 three-point attempts per game average (third-highest in the NBA) and 15. 4 made threes per game (also third-highest). On cue, the Celtics shot 14 for 36 from three-point range. The Lakers (34-22) fell behind by 18 points with 4: 46 left in the fourth quarter; Jaylen Brown was fouled while scoring, made the free throw and then hit a three-pointer that pushed the margin to 21 points.
Key performances and frustration on the floor
Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 25 points but was just 9 for 22 from the field. LeBron James finished with 20 points and was 9 for 21 from the field. The team’s frustration showed: Austin Reaves and Marcus Smart received technical fouls in the second quarter and Lakers coach JJ Redick drew a technical in the third. Players were unhappy with officiating that didn’t go their way against an aggressive Celtics defense.
Players’ reactions after a rough night
LeBron James said, “We had some really good looks. I think they had a good game plan defensively, forcing us to take some shots … I mean listen, sometimes you got to make shots. And they made timely shots and we didn’t. We didn’t give ourselves a good chance on the offensive end. I think defensively, we held serve as long as we could. But offensively, we didn’t give ourselves a good chance. ”
When asked if the team lost focus because of the complaints that led to the technicals, Doncic replied, “Maybe....You’re surprised it wasn’t me, huh?” he said. “Then you know it’s bad. ”
The celtics vs lakers matchup on national television underscored how the rivalry still carries weight for both teams and their fans.
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