Los Angeles, CA – The Boston Celtics ended the Los Angeles Lakers’ winning streak in dominant fashion, securing a 118-105 victory at Crypto.com Arena on Monday night. While the game itself was a battle of two powerhouse franchises, the night took a concerning turn for the Lakers as LeBron James exited early due to an apparent ankle injury.
LeBron James Leaves the Game Hurt
The Lakers, riding a five-game winning streak, faced a major setback when LeBron James twisted his ankle on a drive to the basket during the third quarter. Though he initially attempted to shake off the pain, he eventually left the game and did not return.
As of now, the Lakers have not released an official statement on the severity of his injury. However, head coach Darvin Ham addressed the situation postgame.
“LeBron is a key part of our team. We’ll continue to monitor him and hope it’s nothing serious.”
Celtics Take Control in the Second Half
Despite a strong first-half performance from the Lakers, the Celtics took over in the second half, especially after James’ departure.
- Jayson Tatum led the charge with 32 points, 9 rebounds, and strong leadership on both ends of the court.
- Jaylen Brown added 26 points, while Derrick White and Kristaps Porziņģis delivered clutch performances both offensively and defensively.
“This was a tough game on their home court,” said Tatum. “After LeBron went down, we stuck to our plan and kept pushing forward.”
Lakers Struggle Without Their Star
The Lakers had difficulty finding their rhythm after losing James.
- Anthony Davis led the team with 27 points and 12 rebounds, but the offense struggled without its floor leader.
- D’Angelo Russell contributed 19 points, but the Celtics’ defense clamped down in key moments, forcing crucial mistakes.
Boston dominated the rebounding battle (52-41) and shot over 40% from three-point range, adding to their control over the game. The Celtics’ bench outscored the Lakers’ reserves 38-22, providing crucial support.
Playoff Implications & Next Matchups
The win improves Boston’s record to 45-12, further cementing their position at the top of the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Lakers drop to 32-25, now facing uncertainty regarding James’ injury.
The Lakers will look to bounce back in their next game against the Phoenix Suns, while the Celtics continue their road trip, taking on the Golden State Warriors.