• It got interesting there for a bit, but the Celtics held on for a 111-101 win over the Lakers on Saturday night, snapping LA’s eight-game winning streak.
• LeBron James left with a little more than six minutes remaining because of a groin injury, which he has struggled with in the past.
• Jayson Tatum led the way with 40 points, 6 3-pointers, 12 rebounds and 8 assists, and Jaylen Brown added 31 points, 3 3-pointers and 6 assists.
• James posted 22 points, 14 rebounds and 9 assists before leaving the floor, and Luka Doncic had 34 points on 11-of-22 shooting with 5 3-pointers and 8 rebounds.

Lakers’ LeBron James has a groin strain and is out for rest of game against the Celtics.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 9, 2025

• It is now a 4-point game as the Lakers have outscored the Celtics 25-9 in the 4th. The Celtics’ biggest lead was 23.

LeBron James is out of the game and going back to the locker room with 6:44 to go.

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 9, 2025

• It is now interesting — 94-85 after the Lakers have made a big run and the C’s have gone cold. It’s getting a little quiet here.

Jaylen Brown is one of the few defensive players who has the strength and body control to make stuff tough for Luka.

— Josh Eberley 🇨🇦 (@JoshEberley) March 9, 2025

LeBron 0-6 on threes but 6-6 on hitting the front rim.

— Taco Trey Kerby (@treykerby) March 9, 2025

• Lakers have about 5 mins before Redick pulls the plug on this one. The lead was 22 now it is 15.
• The Lakers had more turnovers than field goals in the third quarter as the Celtics rolled to an 87-67 lead. Jayson Tatum has 32 points with 5 3-pointers, 8 rebounds and 8 assists, and Jaylen Brown has 22 points and 6 rebounds.
• Luka leads the Lakers with 20 [points, but on 6-of-15 shooting, and LeBron has 16 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists.

Lakers defense has a higher ceiling and more buy in but we needed to see what happens when they can’t keep the ball in front and that help is more of a reaction than a scheme.

— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) March 9, 2025

Luka Doncic is 3-for-6 in the second half, and has all 9 of the Lakers’ points.

The rest of the Lakers are a combined 0-for-11 in the third quarter, including 0-for-7 from 3.

— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) March 9, 2025

• JJ Redick T’d up going after Gucci Mane … one of those “you’re playing hard, I’m with my guys” techs
• “Let’s go Celtics!” raining down during a review on a . Lead on the verge of 20.
• Things are getting scary in Boston as the Celtics have a 75-56 lead after a Jaylen Brown 3.

Since the 1:51 mark of the second quarter, the Celtics have gone on a 18-2 run, and the Lakers have missed eight consecutive shots over what has been a more than six-minute span, to give Boston a 71-56 lead.

— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) March 9, 2025

• Wonder if the Lakers are running out of gas. Down 12 early in the third. Luka not with a lot of pop.
• The Celtics lead 58-54 at the half, thanks to a last-second driving dunk by Jayson Tatum.
• Tatum has 22 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, and Jaylen Brown has 16 points.
• LeBron James leads LA with 14 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists, and Luka Doncic has 11 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists — but also 2 turnovers.
• The Lakers are matching the Celtics at the 3-point line, hitting 8-of-20 to Boston’s 9-of-22, but can they sustain it?

LeBron has uh gone at the Derrick White matchup

— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) March 9, 2025