Lakers play their best basketball of the season in dominant win over rival Celtics

A three-pointer, a dunk, a free throw, whatever, it didn’t matter. No matter who scored or how, Lakers was down one against the Boston Celtics.

The score that matters the most every time the Lakers play the Celtics, at least in terms of their rivalry, is 18-17. Boston took that lead last June when it added another championship to its history, pushing out, ahead of the Lakers for the most part and do so with a roster far more equipped to build on that lead as the Lakers work against 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 Thursday in a 117-96 Victory Against the league’s defending champion.

Read more: LeBron James continues to make history with 21st consecutive NBA All-Star Selection

The Lakers played their best 48 minutes of basketball this season—by far it appears—noting 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 better part of 48 minutes, we performed it,” LeBron James said. “We know it’s a great team, defending champions, good players and they will 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 plug early. Lakers’ best players, James, Austin Reaves and Anthony Davis, All took turns with dominant, 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.

“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 knows played well.”

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

“These guys, they know who Boston is. They are the world champions. They can go on a flurry and hit you in several ways. It’s terrifying. It’s scary as a coach trying to figure that out,” Lakers coach 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 tried to be as a group for 42 games, hopefully there’s some reinforcement, maybe some enterprise, but (also) some belief that’s reinforced here about what we can be and how good we can be.”

The Lakers’ chase for 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 He believes the Lakers (24-18) need to add another center, publicly expressing a desire he has held for most of his career despite being one of the NBA’s best centers since starting to play the position exclusively.

“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 believes the team is one or two plays away from title contention. After the game, Davis said he has shared his desire to play Power Forward with the Lakers’ front office several times.

Davis’ comments come after James said the Lakers’ roster is the reason their The margin of error was slim. 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 that it’s not a new report. I got the job six months ago. So I know. I have followed this team since I retired. Just put a date next to it, that’s the report. It’s not a big deal,” Redick said. “These guys want to win; We will win. And again, it’s a challenging environment to just go out and shop. Feel very fortunate that we are able to execute and have someone like Dorian Finney-Smith on our team. And we’ll continue to watch over the next few weeks. “

The Lakers embark on their annual Grammys tour and play six games with one significant caveat – the final game of the tour will be in Inglewood against the Clippers. The Lakers will take on the Golden State Warriors, Charlotte Hornets, Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Wizards and New York Knicks before coming back to Los Angeles, a chance for them to carry the momentum on the road – where they have struggled for most of the season.

But by picking up a big win Thursday against a quality opponent—even though Boston needed to go to overtime to beat the short-handed Clippers Wednesday—the Lakers sent a message upstairs about their ceiling.

Whether that ceiling gets another banner, it’s too early to tell. But the Lakers players know that if they want the team to add to the roster, they have to deliver against the NBA’s best.

“We will always have a championship mindset. We always want it to be achievable. I think our front office is obviously working. Rob (Pelinka) is working on trying to improve the team,” Davis said of the general manager. “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. “

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.