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Key Moment
Boston controlled Friday’s matchup against Los Angeles from the second quarter on. The Lakers, however, had a chance to make a run at the start of the fourth quarter.
The Celtics had led by 17 points with 3:12 remaining in the third period after Isaiah Thomas cashed in on two free throws. Los Angeles, however, countered quickly by scoring 11 of the quarter’s final 13 points to crawl back to within eight heading into the fourth.
There was no doubt that the visitors, who entered the contest having lost nine of their last 11 games, owned the game’s momentum. They had a shot to make this one a game during the opening minutes of the final quarter.
But they failed to do so.
Thomas opened up the fourth with a 3-pointer, accounting for three of his 17 fourth-quarter points, and the teams essentially traded baskets from there on out. Boston’s lead never dropped to fewer than six, when Los Angeles scored a meaningless 3-pointer with 9.1 seconds left in the game.
There is no doubt that LA had a shot to make a comeback. It set itself up heading into the fourth quarter. Boston, however, withstood the momentum shift and swung back, maintaining its comfortable lead to the final buzzer and securing the most wins of any franchise in league history - now one more than its arch-rival.
Key Player
Isaiah Thomas scored 38 points Friday night, including 17 during the fourth quarter. But that’s old hat by now.
What’s not old hat – although, it may become so in the future – is Marcus Smart grabbing five steals all by himself.
Smart took the ball away from the Lakers five times Friday night to tie his career high in the category. Four of those steals came during the first half alone, and three were accumulated during his first three minutes of playing time in the game.
The ever-evolving guard was fantastic in many respects during Friday’s win, racking up nine points, seven assists and three rebounds to go along with his five steals. Only Al Horford dished out more assists with his eight.
Sometimes progress isn’t exactly what you see in the box score, but more so what you see during live game action. Smart has made as much progress as anyone on Boston’s team this season with regard to his playmaking skills, and as always, his defense continues to shine.
Box Score Nuggets
- Isaiah Thomas scored a game-high 38 points, including 17 during the fourth quarter.
- The contest featured only one tie.
- Boston scored at least 29 points during three of the four quarters.
- Lou Williams led the Lakers with 21 points.
- D'Angelo Russell also contributed 20 points.
- Al Horford led the Celtics in assists for the 13th time this season with eight helpers. He also contributed 11 points and eight rebounds.
- Marcus Smart stuffed the stat sheet with nine points, seven assists, five steals and three rebounds.
- Smart's five steals tied a career high.
- Three of LA's five starters scored four or fewer points.
- Boston's defense limited LA's offense to 39.4 percent shooting.
- The Lakers scored 26 points off of Boston's 16 turnovers.
- Terry Rozier came off the bench to score 10 points, grab four rebounds and dish out two assists for the C's.
Quote of the Night
Brad Stevens on coaching the Eastern Conference All-Stars later this month.