Flashbacks of several slow starts and the eventual losses they presaged flashed before the eyes of many a Boston Celtics fan to start Monday night’s matchup.
Disorganized play, rushed offense — it was all there as Boston quickly dug a hole against longtime nemesis Los Angeles Lakers at home on Martin Luther King Day.
Then, something clicked.
The Celtics began to play together, communicating on defense and passing the ball on offense. So much so, it seems to have caught the Lakers by surprise a bit as Jaylen Brown started to catch fire halfway through the first frame.
The game would stay close until a Jayson Tatum trey at the seven-minute mark, the momentum firmly swinging in Boston’s favor. The Celtics never trailed again, slowly building a lead up to 34 points in the waning moments of the fourth quarter.
Boston was led by forward Jayson Tatum, who scored 27 points and 5 boards on 10-of-18 shooting (and 5-of-8 from deep), with support from point guard Kemba Walker (20 points and 7 assists) and Jaylen Brown (20 points, 6 assists and 3 steals).
Reserve center Enes Kanter added 18 points and 11 boards off the bench.
The Lakers were led by center JaVale McGee who scored 18 points and 5 rebounds, and LeBron James added 15 points, 7 boards and 13 assists.
Big man Anthony Davis, who made his return after missing several contests due to a bruised posterior, seemed not quite ready, putting up a quiet 9 points and 4 rebounds in the Lakers’ worst loss of the season.
The Boston Celtics next face the Memphis Grizzlies at home on Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 7:30pm ET.
