Shorthanded Lakers Routed by Celtics as LeBron, Doncic Miss Marquee Matchup

The historic rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics was missing its biggest stars on Friday night, leading to a one-sided affair at TD Garden. The Lakers, playing the second night of a back-to-back and without their two leading scorers, were blown out by the Celtics 126-105. The game was defined by the Lakers’ injury report, which ruled out both LeBron James and Luka Doncic, leaving a depleted Los Angeles squad to face a surging Boston team. The Celtics seized the opportunity, racing out to a 39-17 first-quarter lead and never looking back, shooting a blistering 53.3% from three-point range (24-for-45) for the game. Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 36 points and eight rebounds in the losing effort, while Gabe Vincent added 18 points starting in place of Doncic. The loss dropped the Lakers to 16-6 on the season, though they have yet to lose consecutive games. The Celtics improved to 14-9, winning their sixth game in their last eight outings. The primary storyline heading into the marquee matchup was the Lakers’ injury report. LeBron James was officially ruled out due to right sciatica and left foot joint arthritis. The sciatica issue is one he has dealt with since training camp, forcing him to miss the preseason and the first 14 games of the year. The arthritis designation is a new disclosure for the 40-year-old forward. James had played a season-high 36 minutes the night before in Toronto, where his historic streak of 1,297 consecutive games with at least 10 points came to an end with an eight-point performance. Lakers coach JJ Redick acknowledged the significance of the streak ending, stating, “In some ways, I’m really glad this streak is over so now we can stop talking about it.” The team is managing James’s participation in back-to-back sets, with Redick expressing a hope to ramp up his availability as the season progresses. The other major absence was Luka Doncic, who missed his second straight game for personal reasons. Doncic is in his native Slovenia for the birth of his second child with his fiancée, Anamaria Goltes. The Slovenian guard, who leads the NBA in scoring at 35.3 points per game, last played on Monday against the Phoenix Suns. Coach Redick said the team hopes Doncic can rejoin them for the conclusion of their three-game road trip on Sunday in Philadelphia but did not have a definitive return date. Veteran guard Marcus Smart also remained out for Los Angeles, missing his fourth consecutive game due to lower back injury management. The Celtics, meanwhile, were without All-Star Jaylen Brown, who missed the game with a non-COVID illness. His status had been unclear heading into the contest. Boston was coming off a 45-point road win over the Washington Wizards the previous night, a game Brown also missed. In his place, Jordan Walsh continued his strong play, making all eight of his shots for a career-high 22 points in the win over Washington. The Celtics have gone 8-2 since Walsh entered the starting lineup. For the Lakers, the blowout loss highlights their vulnerability when shorthanded, though their 15-5 record in games without Doncic this season shows resilience. The team now looks to avoid its first losing streak of the year when it faces the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday. Redick expressed optimism that James, Doncic, and Smart could all be available for that contest, saying, “The hope for all the guys would be that they’re available Sunday. That’s the hope for everybody.” Guard Gabe Vincent echoed the next-man-up mentality, stating, “Obviously, if we’re going to be whole, that would be amazing. If we’re not, it’s next man up, and we got to find a way to get a win.” The lopsided nature of this particular Lakers vs Celtics clash serves as a reminder of how quickly a marquee matchup can be transformed by availability. With both teams positioned in the playoff picture in their respective conferences—the Lakers second in the West and the Celtics in the East—managing health will be paramount as the season progresses. Fans hoping to see the league’s brightest stars collide will have to wait for the next chapter in this storied rivalry.