Lakers fall to Celtics 101-111, ending win streak
The Los Angeles Lakers saw their eight-game winning streak come to an end on Thursday night. They lost to the Boston Celtics 101-111 at TD Garden.
Missing Big Men Hurts Lakers’ Defense
The Lakers missed Jaxson Hayes and Rui Hachimura in this matchup. Without their size inside, the team struggled to protect the paint. As a result, they settled for contested three-pointers that rarely found their mark.
Meanwhile, the Celtics took full advantage of this weakness. Al Horford repeatedly attacked Austin Reaves in the post after switching. Typically, Hayes or Hachimura would have bodied up Horford in these situations. However, without them, the Lakers’ defense had no answer.
Lakers Third Quarter Troubles Continue
The third quarter has been a problem for the Lakers all season, and tonight was no exception. Boston’s tough perimeter defense completely shut down LA’s offense. Consequently, Los Angeles scored just 13 points in the quarter.
This dry spell allowed the Celtics to build a comfortable lead. Despite this setback, the Lakers tried to fight back in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, the deficit proved too large to overcome.
Luka’s Injury Limit Effectiveness
Luka Dončić clearly wasn’t at his best in Boston. His back seemed to bother him throughout the game. Additionally, the Celtics’ defensive plan worked perfectly against him.
Boston consistently assigned Jaylen Brown as Dončić’s primary defender. This matchup troubled Luka, who couldn’t create his usual scoring opportunities. His struggles played a major role in the team’s offensive problems.
LeBron will miss 1-2 weeks with groin strain. The Lakers will play 8 games in the next 2 weeks.
Could’ve been worse 🙏 pic.twitter.com/hut1nkaLtI
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) March 9, 2025
Challenging Road Trip Ahead
After this defeat, the Lakers face a difficult stretch of games. First, they’ll meet the Brooklyn Nets, hoping to bounce back quickly.
Then, the schedule gets even tougher. They’ll face the Milwaukee Bucks, followed by two games against the Denver Nuggets. Therefore, the team needs to address their issues quickly.
Despite ending their winning streak, the Lakers still have a chance to make this road trip successful. However, they’ll need better performances than what they showed in Boston.
