With Pat Riley watching, Lakers routed by Celtics

All of the current Lakers realized that taking part in against the Boston Celtics on national tv actually was more than just one of 82 video games on the schedule.

It was crystallized even more because iconic former Lakers coach Pat Riley sat courtside after a celebration for the disclosing of his statue on the Star Plaza exterior Crypto.com Arena. He was the first Lakers coach to beat the hated Celtics for an NBA championship after eight failed makes an attempt.

So, yes, on this Sunday afternoon, this sport meant more if only because it was another sport in the long rivalry, a sport the Lakers misplaced, 111-89.

Luka Doncic had 25 factors for the Lakers but he was just 9 for 22 from the sector. LeBron James had 20 factors but was just 9 for 21 from the sector.

It was apparent the Lakers felt the depth of the rivalry when the followers noticed Austin Reaves and Marcus Smart obtain technical fouls in the second quarter and coach JJ Redick get one in the third.

But what was of real concern for the Lakers was making an attempt to deal with the Celtics and their three-point shooters.

The Celtics entered the sport tossing up 42.4 threes per sport, the third-highest output in the NBA, and making 15.4 of them, also the third-highest.

On cue, the Celtics shot 14 for 36 from three-point vary. The Lakers have been 9 for 30.

The Lakers (34-22) fell behind by 18 factors with 4:46 left in the fourth quarter after Jaylen Brown was fouled while scoring. He made the free throw and then adopted that up with a three-pointer to put the Lakers in a 21-point gap.

Brown completed with 32 factors, eight rebounds and seven assists.

But the real downside for the Lakers was not having the ability to slow down Payton Pritchard. His three-pointer gave the Celtics a 22-point lead and compelled Redick to call a timeout with 3:22 seconds left.

Pritchard was an excessive amount of for the Lakers to deal with, his 30 factors off the bench on 10-for-13 capturing and six-for-nine on three-pointers a big distinction.

After his late three, Redick pulled his starters, figuring out this sport was over.

They confronted a Celtics workforce that is second in the Eastern Conference and had gained eight of its last 10 video games.

“I’m not gonna lie to you guys, there are certain games where you feel it a little bit more,” Redick said before the sport. “Playing at the Garden against the Knicks is awesome. Any time we play the Warriors. You go down the line, there’s a lot of games. Being a novice, at least in terms of NBA history, and just really understanding what this rivalry means for the history of the league, it’s an honor just to be a part of it.

“I got to experience it for four years when I was at Duke, and I always felt like it was just an honor to be a part of the Duke-UNC rivalry and be a part of the continuing tradition of that, and it’s no different here.”