BOSTON —
LeBron James has been asking for weeks that the rest of the Lakers cast provide some help for him and the team’s other star Anthony Davis, as Los Angeles tries to keep pace in the disputed race to advance to the playoffs in the Western Conference.
On Thursday, the two figures limited themselves to watching from the bench. And James’ wish was fulfilled.
Austin Reaves scored 32 points and scored a career-best seven three-pointers as the Lakers, without James Davis, surprisingly beat the Boston Celtics 114-105.
“We are all talented players, and this was an opportunity to show the world that we can do it,” Reaves said. “Before the game we got together and I thought, ‘Well, the least we can do is play as hard as we can and see what happens.’”
The result was perhaps the Lakers’ best of the campaign.
James was absent due to a left ankle injury, while Davis was out of the game due to an Achilles tendon problem, which was added to a series of hip cramps.
This led to the assumption that the Celtics would win easily. The rest of the young Lakers squad had a different opinion.
Reaves was 7 of 10 from three-point range. He was fouled on one of his mistakes and made all three free throws.
The Lakers made 19 of 36 three-pointers and surpassed the NBA leaders to end a two-game losing streak.
D’Angelo Russell added 16 points, 14 assists and eight rebounds for the Lakers. Jaxon Hayes had 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Jayson Tatum scored 23 points for the Celtics, who nevertheless committed 15 turnovers. Boston, which started the season 20-0 at its TD Garden home, has lost three of its last five home games.