The Lakers are playing their best basketball of the season to beat the Celtics

On January 24, 2025By Littum

A three-pointer, a dunk, a free throw, whatever, it didn’t matter. Regardless of who scored or how, the Lakers were one down against the Celtics.

The score that matters most when the Lakers play the Celtics this season, at least in terms of their rivalry, is 18-17. Boston took the lead last June when they added another championship to their history, pushing them ahead of the Lakers for the most ever and doing so with a roster far better equipped to build on that lead as the Lakers work toward a loud ticking clock.

But as the Lakers try to find out how good they can be, they made a strong case for believing in them, delivering a signature win in a 117-96 blowout win against the league’s defending champion.

The Lakers played their best 48 minutes of basketball this season — by far — and quickly established that they were willing to attack the game from the three-point line like the Celtics while rediscovering their defensive toughness.

“We had a game plan and we executed it. For the majority of 48 minutes, we executed it,” LeBron James said. “We know it’s a great team, defending champions, great players and they’re going to put you in situations that are uncomfortable, but you have to be uncomfortable to compete with them.”

Boston shot just 37.8% from the field and 32.5% from three-point range, with Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla pulling the trigger. The Lakers’ best players, James, Austin Reaves and Anthony Davis, all took turns dominating, and the trio combined for 67 points. Dalton Knecht scored 13 and Gabe Vincent had 12 off the bench, with Vincent hitting four threes and Knecht making three.

“I think guys came in and when their number was called, guys came in and they executed what we wanted to do,” James said. “…I think everyone who got the nod, you know, played well.”

Lakers forward Anthony Davis, bottom, battles for loose ball with Celtics forward Jayson Tatum.

Kristaps Porzingis scored 22 to lead the Celtics (31-14), who led just twice and never by more than a point.

“Those guys, they know who Boston is. They’re world champions. They can go play and beat you in any number of ways. It’s scary. It’s scary as a coach trying to figure that out,” JJ Redick said. “And I think our guys understand that. They understand the respect you have to have for that type of opponent.

“And as much as this game could be about reinforcing and establishing the standards that we’ve tried to reach as a group in 42 games (so far), hopefully there’s a reinforcement, maybe an establishment, but (also) some belief , which is reinforced here about what we can be and how good we can be.”

The Lakers’ pursuit of their next title would have been right up front Thursday with Boston in town, but Davis’ comments to ESPN in a taped interview from earlier this week made sure of that.

Davis told ESPN that he believes the Lakers (24-18) need to add another center, and publicly expresses a desire that he has retained for the majority of his career despite being one of the NBA’s best centers since he started playing the position exclusively.

“I think we need another big one,” Davis said. “I feel like I’ve always been at my best when I’ve been (power forward).”

Davis also said he believed the team was one or two games away from title contention.

After the game, Davis said he has shared his desire to play power forward several times with the Lakers’ front office.

Boston's Jaden Springer, right, tries to steal the ball from Lakers star LeBron James.

Davis’ comments come after James said the Lakers’ roster construction was the reason the team’s margin for error was small. Both players have urged the Lakers to be aggressive with future draft picks as the team approaches the Feb. 6 trade deadline.

None of this is a surprise to Redick.

“No reaction. I mean the reality is it’s not a new report. I got the job six months ago. So I know. I’ve followed this team since I retired. Just put a date next to it, it’s not a big deal,” Redick said. “And again, it’s a challenging environment to go out and do business to perform and get someone like Dorian Finney-Smith on our team. And we will continue to watch over the next few weeks.”

The Lakers embark on their annual Grammy road trip, playing six games with one significant caveat — the final game of the trip will be in Inglewood against the Clippers. The Lakers will take on the Warriors, Hornets, 76ers, Wizards and Knicks before returning to Los Angeles, a chance for them to bring momentum on the road — an area where they’ve struggled for most of the season.

But by picking up a big win Thursday against a quality opponent (even though Boston went to overtime to beat the Clippers on Wednesday), the Lakers sent a message upstairs about their ceiling.

Whether that ceiling will get another banner is too early to say. But the Lakers players know that if they want the team to add to the roster, they must deliver against the league’s best.

“We always want to have a championship mindset. We always want it to be attainable. I think our front office, obviously, is working. (General manager) Rob (Pelinka) is working to try to improve the team,” said Davis. “But for us, it’s about going out and playing. Whether something happens or not, we have to go out and compete with what’s in this locker room.”