Let’s be honest for a second. If you bought tickets to Friday night’s showdown at TD Garden between the Lakers and Celtics months ago, you were probably envisioning a clash of titans. You wanted LeBron James defying “Father Time.” You wanted Luka Doncic working his magic. You even wanted a warm, slightly teary-eyed homecoming for Marcus Smart.
Instead, you got the Austin Reaves show and a whole lot of empty seats on the Lakers’ bench. But you know what? If you ask the Celtics fans who watched their team dismantle their historic rivals 126-105, they probably won’t complain too much. A win over L.A. is sweet regardless of who is wearing the purple and gold, and Boston didn’t play with their food on Friday night. They took care of business, winning their fourth straight game.
Jaylen Brown and the Offense Catch Fire
With the star power dimmed on the opposing sideline, Jaylen Brown decided to bring enough voltage for everyone. Brown was spectacular, orchestrating the offense with a near triple-double performance. He finished with 30 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists, looking every bit the superstar the Celtics need him to be.
It wasn’t just the Brown show, though. The entire roster seemed to have the green light from downtown. Boston shot a scorching 53.3% from three-point land (24-for-45). Derrick White, consistent as ever, chipped in 19 points while knocking down five triples. When the ball is moving like that, 13 assists on their first 14 buckets, this team is nearly impossible to defend.
The Jordan Walsh Breakout Continues
While the veterans did their thing, the real story might be the continued emergence of Jordan Walsh. The third-year pro is looking less like a prospect and more like a legitimate piece of the future. Walsh dropped 17 points and grabbed four boards, but it was his poise that stood out.
The game has clearly slowed down for him. He’s making the right reads, cutting with purpose, and hitting shots. Finding a rotation player who can impact winning is like finding gold in the NBA, and it looks like the Celtics might have struck it rich with Walsh.
Reaves Tries, Ayton Disappears
You have to give credit to Austin Reaves. With James (sciatica), Doncic (personal/birth of child), and Smart (back) all in street clothes, Reaves tried to put the team on his back. He dropped a game-high 36 points and dished out eight assists.
Unfortunately for L.A., he had zero help. Deandre Ayton, who was supposed to be the anchor in the middle, was virtually invisible, finishing with a puzzling 6 points and 10 rebounds. When you’re facing a team as deep as the Celtics, you can’t win with one guy playing hero ball while your center goes missing.
What’s Next For Boston?
The Celtics have now won nine of their last 11 games, effectively shaking off any early-season rust. They aren’t just winning; they are dominating. After throttling Washington by 45 points the night before, they followed it up by leading L.A. by as many as 29.
Next up, the Celtics head north to Toronto to face the Raptors on Sunday. If they keep shooting like this, it’s going to be a long afternoon for Toronto.
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