The Celtics look flat in miserable 117-96 road loss to LeBron and the Lakers

The Boston Celtics fell on the road to Los Angeles Lakers Thursday night lost 117-96 to the franchise’s arch rival. Boston is back in action for another bid for the 2024 NBA Finals with a Saturday afternoon game against the Dallas Mavericks.

The Celtics Came out of the gate hot, but this shooting touch faded quickly. By the middle of the first quarter, Boston had lost its offensive mojo, something it never really recovered. With LeBron James at the helm, the Lakers had no such problems. Los Angeles moved with purpose, attacking Boston’s defense freely while putting on one of their best shooting performances of the season. All in all, when the Celtics went down big in the first half, things remained out of reach until the final horn.

You can check out the best moments from the game between the Lakers and the Celtics below, a 117-96 loss for Boston.

23 January 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (8) shoots the ball against Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee Featured Images23 January 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (8) shoots the ball against Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee Featured Images

23 January 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (8) shoots the ball against Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee Featured Images

23 January 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reaches for the ball against Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) and center Luke Kornet (40) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee Featured Images23 January 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reaches for the ball against Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) and center Luke Kornet (40) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee Featured Images

23 January 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reaches for the ball against Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) and center Luke Kornet (40) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee Featured Images

23 January 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Boston Celtics Forward Jayson Tatum (0) shoots the ball against Los Angeles Lakers guard Dalton Knecht (4) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee Featured Images23 January 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Boston Celtics Forward Jayson Tatum (0) shoots the ball against Los Angeles Lakers guard Dalton Knecht (4) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee Featured Images

23 January 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Boston Celtics Forward Jayson Tatum (0) shoots the ball against Los Angeles Lakers guard Dalton Knecht (4) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee Featured Images

23 January 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Dalton Knecht (4) celebrates after making a three-point basket as Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) looks on during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee Featured Images23 January 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Dalton Knecht (4) celebrates after making a three-point basket as Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) looks on during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee Featured Images

23 January 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Dalton Knecht (4) celebrates after making a three-point basket as Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) looks on during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee Featured Images

23 January 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) shoots the ball against Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (11) and forward Dorian Finney-Smith (17) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee Featured Images23 January 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) shoots the ball against Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (11) and forward Dorian Finney-Smith (17) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee Featured Images

23 January 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) shoots the ball against Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (11) and forward Dorian Finney-Smith (17) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee Featured Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 23: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket on Gabe Vincent #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Crypto.com Arena on January 23, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Note to User: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and or using this photograph, User agrees to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 23: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket on Gabe Vincent #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Crypto.com Arena on January 23, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Note to User: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and or using this photograph, User agrees to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Los Angeles, CA - January 23: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics scores on a jumper in front of a downed Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the race in Angeles, California. Note to User: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and or using this photograph, User accepts the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)Los Angeles, CA - January 23: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics scores on a jumper in front of a downed Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the race in Angeles, California. Note to User: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and or using this photograph, User agrees to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: The Celtics look flat in a 117-96 road loss to LeBron James and the Lakers