The Boston star slipped 37 points and the Celtics beat their perennial rivals 130-108. For James the first game after 8 games of absence
“It’s special,” Jayson Tatum exclaims. Celtics-Lakers is never a match like any other. Not even in 2021, when the two most successful teams in NBA history have not met in the final for 11 years. It is the return of LeBron James’ Celtics-Lakers after 8 games of absence due to an abdominal injury. They are the Celtics-Lakers of Tatum, who with 37 points including 14 in the fourth period sign the huge success in Boston, 130-108, which the 19 of the TD Garden greet with the traditional “Beat LA”, which is part of the tradition. like Bill Russell (sitting on the sidelines) and Jerry West, as much as Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, as much as Paul Pierce and Kobe Bryant.
Back
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“I felt good – James said of his comeback with 23 points and 6 rebounds in 32′-. I was gone for two and a half weeks, but I almost felt like I was just getting started, excited. I was happy, physically I was fine because I realized that I could trust my body again. But we will see what I will be like when I wake up ”. The Lakers have lost their third game in a row and are now traveling with 2 wins and 8 losses, but no one cares yet. The Lakers with LeBron are a different team, but one that has yet to find its identity. And on the pitch it has been seen: Anthony Davis finished with 9 points but put 31 in the first quarter, inexorably reducing his efficiency; Westbrook, fresh from his best game with the Lakers, took a step back and finished with 15 points and 12 assists. “Our main problem is defense – AD affirms -. We lack commitment and communication, but we need to improve because we have great defenders and we can be an elite ”. Not in Boston: for the 6 points collected, for the 130-51 rebound, for the inability to stem the wild Tatum. The Lakers in the first quarter, in which they were leading 33, showed what they can be: a devastating team. But the one who has not yet figured out how to be.
The explosion
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Tatum is the main reason for Boston’s success (8-8). He played as a phenomenon, irrepressible in the second and fourth period, he played as a point guard. “It has been a difficult season but I have never doubted myself thanks to my teammates who make me feel their confidence,” he said. Difficult not to have him in a player with so much talent, capable of making a basket in all directions and coaching the team with him. This victory is not just his merit. The Celtics, reborn with 6 wins in their last 9 games after a slow start, won with the defense, which conceded just 44 points to the Lakers in the middle two quarters after 38 in the first period. “I like where we are going,” said Celtics coach Udoka at the time. We are improving in defense, which must be our strong point. And we are also growing in attack ”. Boston finished with 5 players in double figures: in addition to Tatum, Marcus Smart (22 points and 6 assists) and Dennis Schröder (21 and 6) also won the defensive duel very well. Al Horford (18 points and 4 rebounds) showed he still knows how to do it. Waiting for Jaylen Brown, struggling after 7 pit races, Boston seems to be on the right track.
The match
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The Lakers are a hurricane at the start thanks to Davis, who scores 15 points in the first quarter, including the dunk of 32-18 with 2’46 “from the siren. Boston recomposes itself in the second quarter, when Tatum with 12 points starts his show and signs the overtaking at 49-48. Melo’s talent, however, sent the Lakers to the locker room ahead of 61-60. Smart starts the recovery with his nails, the guests swerve and Boston bites, closing at 93-82 and then extending to 116-99 that Tatum signs with 5 ‘from the end. The rest is garbage time, good for “Beat LA” to fill the air of TD Garden again like when the Celtics-Lakers were worth it.
Boston:Tatum 37 (9/17 two, 4/9 three, 7/7 free throws), Smart 22, Schröder 21. Rebounds: Tatum 11. Assist: Smart 6, Schröder 6.
Los Angeles Lakers:Davis 31 (12/18, 0/3, 7/9 tl), James 23, Anthony 13. Rimbalzi: James 6, Davis 6. Assist: Westbrook 6.
