Here is a by-the-numbers look at the Lakers’ 118-111 overtime victory over the Boston Celtics.
0
Seconds left in regulation when Avery Bradley hit a game-tying 3-pointer. The Lakers seemed to be cruising to victory, as they led by 10 points with 3:40 remaining. However, Boston ended the fourth quarter on a 16-6 run keyed by eight points from Bradley, who capped it off by sinking a buzzer-beating 3-pointer over Jeremy Lin from the top of the arc.
16.7
Percentage shot by the Celtics in overtime. After allowing their rivals to shoot 10-for-17 (58.8 percent) in the fourth quarter, the Lakers shut down Boston’s offense in the extra period. The Celtics shot just 2-for-12 against a suffocating L.A. defense, which also caused Boston to miss each of its nine shots from farther than three feet from the hoop. Bradley (20 points) and Evan Turner (12 points) both tried and failed to get the Celtics going, as they combined to shoot 1-for-9 in overtime.
Celtics Shot Chart (Overtime)
“We had a couple good shots, but we didn’t make any obviously,” Turner said. “Once again, (the Lakers) made the most out of each opportunity, which makes it tough. I think that a couple of in-and-outs and a couple rebounds — things like that offensively — just didn’t fall. It made it rough to come back.”
22
Points scored by Wesley Johnson, who set a new season high. The second-year Laker made the most of his shots, going 9-for-11 from the field and 2-for-3 on 3-pointers. Johnson took advantage of a platter of open looks, hitting six of his seven uncontested attempts.
Wesley Johnson Shot Chart
25
Points scored by Lin. Despite playing just one minute in the first and third quarters combined, the Harvard alum erupted for his highest scoring night in a Lakers uniform by shooting 10-for-15 from the field.
“That was one of his best games,” Carlos Boozer said. “He did a great job being a leader. He got shots up, he hit shots and he had every one involved. He was great on defense.”
Lin, who also led L.A. with five assists, carved up the Celtics’ interior defense with drives to the hoop, scoring a game-high 14 points in the paint. He also made Boston pay for its mistakes, leading all players in points off turnovers (10) and on second chances (five).
“Jeremy Lin killed us the whole night,” Celtics head coach Brad Stevens said. “He was really effective in a lot of ways; not only scoring the ball, but also getting into the paint and making plays for others.”
Jeremy Lin Shot Chart
84
Points scored by the Lakers’ bench. Led by Lin, Johnson and Nick Young (19 points), L.A.’s reserves uncorked their best offensive performance of the season, outscoring Boston’s bench by 39 points. While the starting five scrapped together only 34 points, the second- and third-stringers shot 29-for-52 (55.8 percent) to push the Lakers past the rival Celtics.
“I’m a happy man tonight,” head coach Byron Scott said. “I think the energy was there, even with our fans who know the history of our rivalry with them. They were much more into it tonight. When the Celtics got introduced, the boos were louder than I’d heard in a while. I think our fans understand the history between these two organizations.”