Starless Lakers shocks Celtics 114-105, Reaves scores 7 3-pointers

For weeks, LeBron James has been fervently urging the Lakers’ supporting cast to step up and provide assistance to him and fellow All-Star Anthony Davis as they navigate the challenging Western Conference playoff race. Finally, their plea was answered.

In a surprising turn of events, a Los Angeles team missing its star players managed to secure a 114-105 victory over the Boston Celtics on Thursday night. Austin Reaves played a pivotal role, scoring a season-high 32 points and sinking a career-high seven 3-pointers, contributing to what may be considered the Lakers’ best win of the season.

The highly anticipated matchup between these historic rivals lost some of its luster when James was sidelined due to a left ankle injury, and Davis was absent due to an Achilles tendon issue and left hip spasms. However, the Lakers’ young roster rose to the occasion, defying expectations of a mismatch.

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Reaves, shooting 7 of 10 from beyond the arc, made a significant impact. Additionally, he was fouled on one of his misses and converted all three free throws. The Lakers collectively made 19 of 36 3-point attempts, successfully holding off the NBA-leading Celtics and putting an end to their two-game losing streak.

D’Angelo Russell contributed 16 points, 14 assists, and eight rebounds, while Jaxson Hayes posted a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers. On the Celtics’ side, Jayson Tatum scored 23 points, but their 15 turnovers contributed to their third loss in the last five home games after starting the season 20-0 at TD Garden.