The Boston Celtics, riding a hot streak in their recent sharpshooting, are set to bring their scoring prowess to familiar territory.
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The Boston Celtics, riding a hot streak in their recent sharpshooting, are set to bring their scoring prowess to familiar territory as they face the Los Angeles Lakers in a highly anticipated Christmas Day clash on Monday—a matchup steeped in the history of these longtime rivals.
Following a triumphant 144-119 road victory over the Sacramento Kings last Wednesday, the Celtics continued their winning ways with a resounding 145-108 triumph against the Clippers in Los Angeles on Saturday. Notably, Boston set a franchise record by sinking 47 3-pointers across these two impressive wins, marking a historic achievement in the realm of made 3-pointers over a two-game stretch.
Even with the odds stacked against them, the Celtics managed to secure victories in the two games, and it’s worth noting that they weren’t operating at full capacity. Jayson Tatum was sidelined with a sprained ankle, forcing him to sit out the Sacramento game. Additionally, the absence of Kristaps Porzingis, nursing an ankle injury, further challenged Boston’s lineup in the matchup against the Clippers.
Making a comeback to the lineup on Saturday, Tatum showcased his scoring prowess by notching a game-high 30 points against the Clippers. Impressively, he achieved a 50% success rate from beyond the arc, converting five out of his ten attempts from 3-point range. Notably, the upcoming Monday game is set to unfold in the same downtown Los Angeles arena.
For the Lakers, Vincent will not be playing the game due to a knee injury. As for the Celtics, Kornet (thigh injury), Mykhailiuk (heel injury), and Porzingis (ankle injury) will not be available for the game.
The win against the Clippers on Saturday represented a historic milestone for the Celtics, as it was the first instance since 1966 that they scored at least 140 points in consecutive games. This victory marked Boston’s seventh triumph in the last eight games, with an impressive combined total of 289 points scored across the two consecutive contests.
Halting a four-game losing streak, the Lakers secured a 129-120 road triumph against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday. In a strategic shift, LeBron James assumed the point guard role and delivered a standout performance, scoring a season-high 40 points. Notably, he showcased his clutch capabilities with 15 points in the fourth quarter, including 11 in the final 4:29.
James displayed remarkable efficiency, shooting 65% from the field with a perfect record of five made 3-pointers out of five attempts. Alongside his scoring prowess, he contributed seven rebounds, seven assists, and two blocks to round out a well-rounded performance.
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