By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Boston Celtics’ firepower and defensive prowess proved to be too much for the Los Angeles Lakers, 111-101, and became the first team to taint their record that went untouchable for almost three weeks in the ongoing NBA regular season on March 9, 2025.
Entering the NBA’s greatest rivalry with an eight-game winning streak, the Lakers had all the confidence and the right mindset but the defending champions showed that they were more locked-in and eager to protect home court.
The Lakers held a brief eight-point lead midway through the opening quarter but Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown sank timely baskets that helped the Celtics level the playing field at 33-all heading to the second frame.
From a high-octane exchange of baskets, the Celtics switched things up after putting more emphasis on their help defense, the main reason why Los Angeles’ offense started to deteriorate.
The Lakers didn’t have many open three-point attempts when the second period started and faced problems in getting past Boston’s tight interior coverage anchored by Jrue Holiday and Al Horford.
Los Angeles’ worst nightmare came in the third quarter, when the Celtics limited them to just 13 points in that canto alone.
Aside from Boston’s swarming defense in the passing lanes, the Lakers also had a cold shooting display that allowed the Celtics to counter with fast break points.
The defending champions ballooned their biggest lead of the ball game to 22 points in the third, but the Lakers showed signs of life once again when they trimmed their deficit to just a single digit in the fourth.
Luka Doncic carried the Lakers during that offensive avalanche, hitting an insane three-point bank shot while abusing Horford in the switch that forced Boston to call a timeout.
When the Celtics needed someone to hit a big shot that could pump up the crowd, Brown answered the call and electrified the home fans in the TD Garden with a demoralizing three-pointer and a sweet drive to the basket.
Brown’s baskets helped Boston recover and balloon their lead back to double digits, while the Lakers gassed out and failed to convert their next offensive possessions on the other end.
Tatum ignited the Boston artillery in the first half and capped off the huge win with 40 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and a block. Meanwhile, Brown added 31 markers but from an efficient 13/25 shooting from the field alongside six boards, three steals, and two dimes.
Horford also turned back the hands of time and chipped in an all-around outing of 14 points, nine rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block.
On the other hand, the Lakers received another dominant performance from Doncic who scored 34 markers but missed his superstar partner, LeBron James, who exited midway through the fourth due to a groin injury.
James was already bound for another monster night after already tallying 22 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists but was unable to continue and headed to the locker room with still six minutes remaining in the fourth.
The Celtics will gun for their fifth consecutive win on March 11, 2025, and will take on the Utah Jazz while the Lakers aim to redeem themselves on the same date against the Brooklyn Nets.
