Celtics vs. Lakers: Play-by-play, highlights and reactions

By HoopsHype | December 25, 2023

The Boston Celtics (23-6) play against the Los Angeles Lakers (16-15) at Crypto.com Arena

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Game Time: 5:00 PM EST on Monday December 25, 2023

Boston Celtics 126, Los Angeles Lakers 115 (Final)

What’s the buzz on Twitter? Steve Bulpett @SteveBHoopAnthony Davis had this game on his schedule (not always the case), and the Celtics still beat the Lakers by double figures. – 7:34 PM Khobi Price @khobi_priceFinal: Celtics 126, Lakers 115.Lakers with their 6th loss in 8 games. Drop to 16-15. Anthony Davis: Regular season-high 40 points, 13 rebounds and 3 assists. Off night from LeBron James (16 points on 5-14 shooting, 9 rebounds, 8 assists).Next up: vs. Hornets on Thursday. – 7:27 PM Brian Robb @BrianTRobbCeltics beat Lakers 126-115 to finish west coast swing with a 3-1 record and a +67 point differential against four playoff teams. Just a terrific road trip. – 7:26 PM Brad Turner @BA_TurnerLakers lose to Celtics 126-115 despite 40 points, 13 rebounds from Anthony Davis. Celtics had 6 players score in double figures, led by Kristaps Porzingis’ 28 points and 11 rebounds. – 7:26 PM Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe#Celtics use an impressive second half attacking the rim and getting to the FT line to beat #Lakers 126-115. Porzingis 28, Tatum 25, Brown 18, White 18, Holiday 18, Pritchard 10; Davis 40, Prince 17, James 16, Hachimura 12, Reaves 11. – 7:26 PM Dave McMenamin @mctenThe Lakers dug themselves an 18-point deficit in the 1st Q and never fully recovered, losing 126-115 to Boston on Christmas. AD 40p on 15-of-26 shooting 13r 4a; Prince 17p on 5-of-10 from 3; LeBron 16p on 5-of-14 9r 8a; Rui 12p on 5-of-14 (2-of-9 from 3); Reaves 11p 6r 3a – 7:26 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaFinal: Celtics 126, Lakers 115The Lakers drop to 16-15. They are just 2-6 since the In-Season Tournament. AD had a season-high 40 points, 13 rebounds and 1 block. LeBron had 16 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists. Taurean Prince had 17 points.Up next: vs. Charlotte on Thursday. – 7:25 PM Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBACeltics finally get a win on this trip in a wire-to-wire battle, beating the Lakers 126-115. Terrific game management by Jayson Tatum, some great shot making and rim protection from Kristaps Porziņģis, and the Stock Market was booming as White & Holiday were on fire. – 7:25 PM Kevin O’Connor @KevinOConnorNBAThe Celtics are so loaded. Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White were their best players today. Crazy to say that about a team that also has Tatum, Brown, and Holiday. But it’s not the first time this season that’s been true. – 7:25 PM Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannixHow about this road trip for Boston? Drop an overtime thriller in Golden State and proceed to mow down the Kings, Clippers and Lakers to close it out. – 7:24 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterSince the In-Season Tournament Final didn’t officially count, this is the first 40-point game of the season for Anthony Davis (he had 41 in the IST Final).His last time scoring 40 was Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals vs. Denver. – 7:22 PM John Karalis @John_KaralisSix different Celtics scoring over six minutes or so to turn an 8 point game into a 15 point game and time running out for the Lakers – 7:21 PM Adam Himmelsbach @AdamHimmelsbachCeltics didn’t really hit their 3s, didn’t get dominant scoring performances from their biggest stars, let Anthony Davis get an efficient 38 and 13, and are on the verge of another blowout win anyway.This team is tough, you guys. – 7:21 PM Michael Grange @michaelgrangeCeltics about to complete blowout sweep of Sac, LAC and LAL. Excellent team with pieces that really fit. I got them over the field right now. – 7:20 PM Souichi Terada @SouichiTeradaOnly 2 offensive rebounds for the Lakers in the 2nd half (none in the 4th) for 0 second-chance points. LA had 9 offensive rebounds and 9 second-chance points in 1st half. – 7:20 PM Dave McMenamin @mctenLeBron James arguably had his best game of the season in OKC on Saturday with 40 points. He followed it up with perhaps his worst today, 16 points on 5-for-14 shooting with 2:40 remaining in the 4th Q. – 7:20 PM Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwillJust about over here in LA. Celtics best game is probably better than everyone’s best game in the NBA. Not sure it definitively means anything but…when they put it together it’s something to behold – 7:19 PM Bobby Manning @RealBobManningIt didn’t start great – but the #Celtics will come away with a nice 3-1 west coast swing including two blowouts, one without Tatum and another without Porzingis. The flexibility of this roster is astounding. – 7:19 PM Michael Pina @MichaelVPinaThe Celtics have a mathematical advantage in every game, which isn’t fair because they also have a talent advantage in every game. – 7:18 PM Kendrick Perkins @KendrickPerkinsYep! The Celtics are the best team in the NBA. If they stay healthy I don’t see a single team in the NBA beating them in a 7 game series. Carry the hell on… – 7:17 PM Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBACeltics aren’t going to double the post under any circumstances now it looks like. Content to give up 2s with this lead up 14 late 4th. – 7:17 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaAnthony Davis has a season-high 38 points tonight (excluding the In-Season Tournament championship game). – 7:16 PM Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBALots of energy from Jrue Holiday with the second unit today. He’s sprinting in circles on defense to help and recover, even getting a big block on Rui from behind after Rui attacked his closeout. Then on offense, he’s getting into the paint and kicking out to the corners well. – 7:12 PM Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBALeBron James is 2/7 at the rim. I wonder when the last time was he shot so poorly from there. He missed a couple of pretty good looks early in the 4th. – 7:11 PM Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe#Celtics attacking the rim and scoring on cuts, have played a strong defensive half. Up 11 with 6:11 left. Tatum and Brown a combined 10 for 28 FG. Porzingis and White 40 pts on 16 for 26 FG. – 7:10 PM Khobi Price @khobi_priceEnd of 3Q: Celtics 99, Lakers 90.Boston with a 41-point 3Q to take a nine-point lead going into the fourth. Anthony Davis: 33 points, 13 rebounds, three assists. – 6:58 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterThe Lakers took a 2-point lead early in the 3rd Q, but Boston put together a run that ultimately has them leading 99-90 with 12 minutes to play.Anthony Davis has a 33-point, 13-rebound double-double already in his 31 minutes. – 6:58 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaThird quarter: Celtics 99, Lakers 90Anthony Davis has 32 points and 13 rebounds. Taurean Prince has 17 points (five 3s). LeBron has 10 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists. Boston is killing LA in transition. LA’s starters are -10 in eight minutes (-9 in 18 minutes overall). – 6:57 PM John Karalis @John_KaralisTatum isn’t scoring well and he needs to be more aggressive in that regard, but he’s doing other things. He has 5 assists and 7 rebounds, and he’s doing other little things to contribute. – 6:52 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaAustin Reaves’ 3-pointer in transiton — off a Taurean Prince steal and a great screen from AD near halfcourt — have the Lakers back within four, 83-79, with 4:28 left in the third quarter. LA is hanging around. AD continues to carry them (27 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists). – 6:46 PM Bobby Manning @RealBobManningThe #Celtics aren’t quite as devastating defensively as they were in ’22 with the Rob-Al combination, but they’re flashing that defensive alignment with KP cheating away from Vanderbilt and it’s incredibly effective. – 6:40 PM John Karalis @John_KaralisThe only mismatch Boston should be hunting is Porzings vs. a small on a switch. Everything else should come off good ball movement, drive & kicks – 6:37 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaThe Lakers’ starters are -13 in eight minutes today (-9 in the first half and -4 in the second). These negative minutes against one of the league’s best lineups are swinging the game. – 6:36 PM Dave McMenamin @mctenFrom pregame: Gabe Vincent will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and is expected to miss 6-to-8 weeks during his recovery, a source confirmed to ESPN. The surgery could happen as soon as Tuesday. bit.ly/3v6mbg8 – 6:30 PM Steve Bulpett @SteveBHoopRarely got to have the big family dinner on Christmas Day because of the Celtics’ schedule. But on the selected day around now as we were finishing the main course, Mom would invariably say, “Oh, the rolls! They’re still in the oven!”Enjoy the burnt rolls while you can, people. – 6:24 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaHalftime: Celtics 58, Lakers 57LA has outscored Boston 45-28 since trailing 30-12 at the 3:57 mark of the first quarter. AD has 20 points and 7 rebounds. Taurean Prince has 11 points. LeBron has 8 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. LA has been fine outside of the starting group. – 6:15 PM Bobby Manning @RealBobManningPhenomenal start fell into sloppy offensive execution in the 2nd. Porzingis made some important shots, but Tatum still hasn’t quite found the rhythm, movement in the offense you’re looking for on this trip. He needs to have a much better second half. Brown injury a concern – 6:13 PM Brad Turner @BA_TurnerAD has 20 points, 7 rebounds, Taurean Prince 11 points to keep Lakers within 58-57 of Celtics at the half. – 6:12 PM Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBACeltics barely hanging on to a 58-57 lead at HT as AD misses the open shot. LeBron started dominating the glass & flying in transition to get the Lakers going and they have the Celtics on their back foot now. AD has been elite in the post as well & they’ve worked around KP well. – 6:12 PM Mark Medina @MarkG_MedinaLakers-Celtics went from Memorial Day Massacre vibes to NBA Finals fun. Celtics with a 58-57 half-time lead over the Lakers. – 6:11 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterAnthony Davis was terrific in the 1st half vs. Boston, scoring 20 points on 9 of 14 FG’s, including a bucket with 19 seconds left to get LAL within a point at 58-57.Boston had led by 18 in the 1st Q after a torrid start. – 6:11 PM Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwillNot sure if that challenge was worth it for the Lakers. No more challenges left. LeBron wasn’t actually in foul trouble. Possession wouldn’t have been theirs regardless – 6:11 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaAnthony Davis has been amazing today: 20 points (9-14 FGs), seven rebounds (three offensive), two assists and a block in 19 minutes. He’s almost single-handedly kept LA in this game. – 6:10 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterReaves thought he got fouled by White on a drive at the 1:34 mark (no call); LeBron blocked the ensuing transition attempt from Tatum, but it was ruled a reach-in foul on Taurean Prince during an LAL challenge, and Tatum got FT’s anyway. – 6:09 PM Mark Medina @MarkG_MedinaLakers challenge was successful….kind of. LeBron not called for a foul. Instead, Prince gets one. Tatum still goes to the FT line. Scott Foster definitely trolled the fans in dramatic effect when sharing his decision – 6:09 PM Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannixNo matter the outcome of that challenge, it was bad one. Lakers lose the challenge and are now out of them — in a close game – – with the second half still to come. Best case scenario would have been Boston ball. That’s a situation where Darvin Ham should have told LBJ no. – 6:08 PM Khobi Price @khobi_priceDarvin challenges the foul called against LeBron James on the chasedown block against Jayson Tatum. Successful challenge but refs say no foul on LeBron but Taurean Prince fouled Tatum, so Tatum gets 2 FTs anyway. – 6:08 PM Souichi Terada @SouichiTeradaScott Frost said there’s no foul on LeBron, so the crowd cheered. Then he hit them with the “however!” and it’s a foul on Prince. So Tatum gets 2 free throws out of all that. – 6:08 PM John Karalis @John_KaralisThe Lakers are going to win this challenge because the foul wasn’t on LeBron. But Tatum did get fouled by Prince, so it’s going to end up being a waste of a challenge because the result is going to end up being the same – 6:06 PM Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBAIt’s absurd Lakers have to waste their challenge on that. call. Didn’t look like a foul at all live and is clearly clean on replay. Also LeBron called for it so you know it’s getting overturned lol – 6:05 PM Mark Medina @MarkG_MedinaLeBron James passionately calling for a challenge after officials called him for a foul on Tatum’s chase down block. – 6:05 PM Jay King @ByJayKingThe Lakers have been defending at a super high level. That block by Anthony Davis was special. – 6:04 PM Melissa Rohlin @melissarohlinLeBron James is re-entering the game after both he and Jaylen Brown remained on the court for a few seconds following a collision. – 6:02 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterA collision between LeBron and Brown quieted the building as both recovered on the ground for a time. LeBron is about to check back into the game after a brief rest. – 6:01 PM Khobi Price @khobi_priceLeBron James is walking back to the bench after appearing to suffer a left knee injury while guarding Jaylen Brown.Looks like Jaylen tripped up while LeBron was trailing him and LeBron accidentally kneed Jaylen in the back. – 6:00 PM Dave McMenamin @mctenLeBron James and Jaylen Brown are both shaken up here from an awkward collision. Brown is favoring his back and LeBron is holding his left knee. James is subbing out of the game and will be attended to on the bench. – 6:00 PM Mark Medina @MarkG_MedinaBoth LeBron James (left knee) and Jaylen Brown (back) look in serious pain after getting tangled up. Brown and LeBron eventually got up. Brown is still in the game, while LeBron is on the bench. – 6:00 PM Brian Robb @BrianTRobbCeltics are just 5-of-18 from the field over the last nine minutes. Still getting great looks but have cooled off considerably. – 5:55 PM Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBAAside from Payton Pritchard’s explosion to open up the second quarter, the Celtics are 1/7 from the field in this period. – 5:55 PM Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBANotable that Lakers 7-0 run occurred as Boston went back to their starters, who dominated at the start. KP missed a couple of wide open 3s in that run, AD is helping on Boston’s 1 on 1 attacks so KP will need to do that. – 5:55 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterAnthony Davis drilled a 3 to get LAL within 3 at 47-44, after they’d trailed by as many as 18 in the 1st Q.Davis is 8 for 12 towards 18 points with 5 rebounds, scoring on Boston inside and out.Davis, after taking only 4 threes in November, has hit 7 in the last 7 games. – 5:55 PM Souichi Terada @SouichiTerada30-15 Lakers run and the Celtics’ 18-point lead is down to 3. Lakers have settled in offensively and 12-16 from the field after a 6-20 start. – 5:54 PM Bobby Manning @RealBobManningCredit to Jaylen, who’s having his best defensive season in years, picking up LeBron with Holiday needing to play LeBron. #Celtics have used Holiday on matchups like Davis, Giannis, Embiid since Smart, Grant left over the summer and Horford moved to the bench. – 5:53 PM Jorge Sierra @hoopshypeMost Christmas Day wins in NBA historyDwyane Wade: 10 in 13 gamesLeBron James: 10 in 18Udonis Haslem: 9 in 10James Harden: 9 in 11Dick Van Arsdale: 9 in 12 – 5:52 PM Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBAQueta’s defensive versatility has really grown on this road trip. He just defended LeBron perfectly in transition to force him into a traveling spin move. Queta’s been solid guarding in space on switches and tricky help spots. He’s become more than a deep drop center. – 5:44 PM Dave McMenamin @mctenThe Lakers trailed by as many as 18, but were able to cut it to single digits heading into the 2nd Q, down 32-23. AD leads LAL with 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting and 5 rebounds. The Celtics starters are shooting 13-for-22 (59%) – 5:38 PM Mark Medina @MarkG_MedinaCeltics hold a 32-23 first-quarter lead over the Lakers. Lakers got themselves back into as Boston went scoreless and missed seven consecutive shots for final 3:11 – 5:37 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaFirst quarter: Celtics 32, Lakers 23After trailing by as many as 18 points, LA closed the quarter on an 11-2 run to trim the deficit to single digits. AD has 13 points and 5 rebounds. LA has stayed afloat with 6 offensive rebounds. BOS is getting to the rim way too easily. – 5:37 PM Khobi Price @khobi_priceEnd of 1Q: Celtics 32, Lakers 23.Lakers close out the quarter on a 9-0 run after the slow start. Boston with 10 points off of L.A.’s five turnovers. Anthony Davis: 13 points, five rebounds. Celtics shooting 50% (13-26) from the field. Lakers shooting 37.5% (9-24). – 5:37 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaFirst quarter: Celtics 32, Lakers 23After trailing by as many as 18 points, LA closed the first quarter well and trimming the deficit to single digits. AD has 13 points and 5 rebounds. LA has stayed afloat with 6 offensive rebounds. Boston is getting to the rim way too easily. – 5:36 PM Souichi Terada @SouichiTerada9-0 Lakers run to end the 1st quarter. Still a 32-23 Celtics lead. C’s are 3-12 from 3 now after some misses to end the quarter. – 5:36 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterThe Lakers held Boston scoreless in the final 3 minutes of the 1st Q, and trimmed an 18-point deficit to 9 at 32-23 heading into the 2nd Q.Prince rimmed out on a 3 just ahead of the buzzer after a behind-the-back LeBron pass that would have set the crowd off. – 5:36 PM Dave McMenamin @mctenTrailing 32-16, the Lakers catch a break with Darvin Ham using a successful challenge to overturn a foul call on Rui Hachimura that would have awarded Jaylen Brown two free throws – 5:31 PM Souichi Terada @SouichiTeradaJoe Mazzulla going with Neemias Queta coming out of this timeout even with Luke Kornet available. Some double big with Horford, too. – 5:30 PM Brian Robb @BrianTRobbCeltics open the game shooting 68 percent from field with all five starters having two baskets already and just one turnover against the Lakers defensive-minded starting 5. – 5:30 PM Bobby Manning @RealBobManning#Celtics are going Horford-Porzingis to end the 1Q as they have recently. They’re still tinkering with bigger looks.Luke Kornet is back today, but Horford-Queta bench looks had built a +30 through 40 minutes or so. We’ve seen Horford-Kornet and some Oshae-Horford looks too. – 5:29 PM Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBAThe Brown/Porzingis chemistry is really refreshing from 2 players who weren’t known for their passing before this year. – 5:28 PM Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBAThings are going so bad for the Lakers that Ham is challenging a foul for Rui just so his team doesn’t take another L. – 5:28 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterBoston is red hot early, a collective 12 for 17, with LAL struggling from the field (5 for 19), creating a 32-14 Celtics lead late in the 1st period. – 5:26 PM Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBAFeels like this happens every 5 games at this rate, but this has got to be the Celtics’ best quarter of the season. Defensive execution has been near perfect and the offense is getting whatever it wants or the Jays just hit a great shot. – 5:26 PM Souichi Terada @SouichiTeradaQuite the start for the Celtics’ big 3: Brown with 9 points, Tatum with 7 and Porzingis with 6. They’re a combined 9-13 from the field. – 5:25 PM Bobby Manning @RealBobManningI still wonder whether or not that’s the right shot for Tatum in transition…even as hot as he’s been. It feels like a waste. – 5:25 PM Bobby Manning @RealBobManningFive pass possession on that White layup. Transition lead out following a Brown steal to Porzingis and it’s 25-10. Absolute domination on both ends by Boston. – 5:24 PM Bobby Manning @RealBobManningSome incredible interior defense against LeBron. Heard Mazzulla mention ‘defense first’ again on the radio pre-game and the #Celtics just continue to look so much sharper on that end compared to a year ago. Just have to look out for fouling today. – 5:19 PM Bobby Manning @RealBobManningThis has been a good matchup for the #Lakers in recent years.Not anymore. I can’t think of a bigger shooting difference between two teams. If the #Celtics get another good game from the bench this could get ugly. – 5:13 PM Tim Bontemps @TimBontempsBoston’s starting five is 14-1 entering today’s game, with a net rating of nearly plus 20 points per 100 possessions.Celtics showing what they are capable of with this blistering start against the Lakers today. – 5:13 PM Khobi Price @khobi_priceCeltics jump out to a 12-0 lead after Jaylen Brown’s 3-pointer. Lakers have missed all five of their FGAs. Celtics are 5-7, including 2-4 on 3s. Brown has 7 points. – 5:12 PM Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBALakers new starters enable them to match up better on D, but playing right into Celtics’ defensive strategy of keeping big on the back line since KP can guard Vando. – 5:12 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaA 12-0 start for the Celtics. Timeout LA with 9:21 remaining in the first quarter. This is the problem with starting three players who aren’t ballhandlers/shot-creators (and two that aren’t shooters). Boston is packing the paint and the Lakers don’t have an answer. – 5:12 PM Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBAWith Porziņģis able to live under the rim on defense while the Celtics switch on the perimeter, Lakers have no answers so far. Even with AD gets the switch onto JB and posts him up, KP can clean up whatever happens. Then JB is electric on offense right now. 12-0 Celtics. – 5:12 PM Dave McMenamin @mctenThe Celtics start the game up 12-0. Lakers timeout. LAL is 0-for-5 with 2 turnovers: BOS is 5-for-7 with 1 turnover. – 5:12 PM Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannixCeltics open up a 12-0 lead and I’m pretty sure Jayson Tatum has yet to even touch the ball. This Boston offense is absolutely humming. – 5:12 PM Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBPCeltics at Lakers – Crypto.com Arena – December 25, 2023 – StartersBoston – Holiday, White, Brown, Tatum, PorzingisLos Angeles – LeBron James, Cam Reddish, Taurean Prince, Jared Vanderbilt, Anthony DavisOut – Boston: Mykhailiuk, Stevens Los Angeles: Vincent pic.twitter.com/eZhQQurpKu – 4:40 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaAnthony Davis, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Cam Reddish and Jarred Vanderbilt are all available today, per the Lakers.Gabe Vincent is the only player out. – 4:19 PM Fred Katz @FredKatzThe Knicks are now more than halfway into this brutal stretch of 10 consecutive games against teams .500 or better.So far, they are 4-2 with wins over the Suns, Lakers, Nets and Bucks.Final four: @ OKC, @ ORL, @ IND and vs. MIN. – 3:48 PM Fred Katz @FredKatzIt is 29 games into the season and nearly a quarter of the Knicks’ schedule so far — seven games — has come against either the Bucks or the Celtics. Four against Milwaukee and three against Boston. – 3:45 PM Bill Simmons @BillSimmonsHave a little Christmas parlay boost for you on @FDSportsbook — LeBron to score 25+ in the Lakers-Boston game plus San Francisco’s money line (to beat Baltimore tonight) boosted up to +170. Couldn’t figure out how to work “Derrick White will be awesome today” into this. pic.twitter.com/gTVLr7cqBr – 12:19 PM