NBA

Los Angeles Lakers at Boston Celtics

· National Basketball Association
40-22, 15-15 Away
Final
101 - 111

46-18, 22-11 Home

Tatum scores 40, Celtics beat Lakers 111-101 after James leaves late with groin injury

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics: Game Highlights

With LeBron James in the locker room with a strained groin, the Lakers cut a 20-point, fourth-quarter deficit to single digits. But Tatum and Jaylen Brown scored Boston’s final 12 points to preserve the win.

Brown added 31 points as the Celtics earned their fourth straight victory.

James finished with 22 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists before exiting midway through the fourth quarter as the Lakers had their eight-game Los Angeles win streak.

Luka Doncic had 34 points and eight rebounds in his first game in Boston since he and the Dallas Mavericks lost Game 5 of the NBA Finals as Boston clinched its 18th championship.

Takeaways Lakers: Things fell apart in a third quarter in which they showed very little connectivity on offense. It’s clearly something that’s still missing at times with the addition of Doncic.

Celtics: Jrue Holiday return after missing four straight games with mallet finger in his right pinkie. But center Kristaps Porzingis sat for the fifth consecutive game with an illness.

Key moment The TD Garden crowd was brought to its feet with 3:50 left in the first quarter when Brown stripped Doncic, led a fast break and found a streaking Al Horford for a two-handed slam.

Horford’s momentum caused him to swing forward, and he inadvertently kneed a trailing Doncic in the head as he swung back. No foul was called on the play, though Doncic was clearly irritated by the collision.

Key stat The Celtics held the Lakers to 21% shooting from the field (5 of 23) in the third quarter, with Los Angeles also committing six turnovers.

Up next The Lakers visit Brooklyn on Monday. The Celtics host the Jazz on Monday.

Regular Season Series

Series tied 1-1

Recent Plays

4th 0.0 End of Game 101 - 111
4th 0.0 End of the 4th Quarter 101 - 111
4th 1.1 shot clock turnover 101 - 111
4th 25.1 Gabe Vincent makes 2-foot two point shot 101 - 111
4th 37.1 Jayson Tatum makes free throw 2 of 2 99 - 111

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nba/500/lal.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originLAL https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nba/500/bos.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originBOS
39-87 FG 40-84
45 Field Goal % 48
14-40 3PT 13-38
35 Three Point % 34
9-14 FT 18-25
64 Free Throw % 72
45 Rebounds 43
9 Offensive Rebounds 11
36 Defensive Rebounds 32
18 Assists 24
6 Steals 9
1 Blocks 5
12 Turnovers 9
2 Team Turnovers 1
14 Total Turnovers 10
1 Technical Fouls 1
1 Total Technical Fouls 1
0 Flagrant Fouls 0
16 Points Conceded Off Turnovers 7
16 Fast Break Points 18
38 Points in Paint 48
17 Fouls 11
8 Largest Lead 22
Boston Celtics Boston Celtics Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
Sam Hauser, F Day-To-Day Feb 9
John Tonje, F Day-To-Day Feb 8
Jayson Tatum, F Out Feb 8
Los Angeles Lakers Los Angeles Lakers Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
Adou Thiero, F Out Feb 9
Luka Doncic, G Out Feb 8

Game Information

TD Garden

Location: Boston, MA
Attendance: 19,156 · Capacity:

2025-26 Pacific Standings

TEAM W L PCT GB STRK
LA Lakers 32 19 .627 - W3
Phoenix 31 22 .585 2 L2
Golden State 28 25 .528 5 L1
LA Clippers 25 27 .481 7.5 W2
Sacramento 12 42 .222 21.5 L12

2025-26 Atlantic Standings

TEAM W L PCT GB STRK
New York 34 19 .642 - W1
Boston 34 19 .642 - L1
Toronto 32 22 .593 2.5 W2
Philadelphia 30 22 .577 3.5 W1
Brooklyn 14 37 .275 19 W1
Full Standings

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