The NBA regular season was intense, and the Lakers beat the Eastern Conference powerhouse Celtics 114-105 on the road, injecting a shot in the arm for their recent poor record. The Lakers currently have a 50% win percentage and are ninth in the West, while the Celtics are at the top of the East with a 37-11 record and the best in the entire league.
Against this seemingly unfavorable backdrop, the Lakers managed to break the Celtics' strong atmosphere at home, which was jaw-dropping. It is worth mentioning that in the absence of the two core players of James and thick eyebrows, how did the Lakers complete this victory? Let's dig deeper into the detailed data to find out.
In the race, Russell showed an extremely solid overall performance. Although he has room for improvement in mid-range and half-chance layups, his excellent three-point shooting skills and excellent playmaking have injected a lasting offensive force into the Lakers.
Russell contributed 16 points, 8 rebounds, 14 assists, 2 steals and only one turnover. In James' absence, he managed to shoulder the responsibility of the heart of the organization and performed quite well.
And Reeves shined in the game, once again showing the power of the wonder boy. He continued to display amazing three-point shooting skills, scoring a game-high 32 points on 18-of-10 shooting, in addition to two rebounds and three assists, and almost no turnovers, becoming a formidable force in the game. Behind this victory, it was the excellent play of these two players that brought the Lakers a surprise victory.
Throughout the intense game, Prince showed excellent defensive and offensive skills with excellent skills, shooting 50% from the field. Not only did he put in an impressive performance of 11 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal on both ends of the floor, but he also stepped up to the limelight and successfully completed a high-profile block.
Considering Vanderbilt left the game in the second half with an injury, Prince stepped up and took on more defensive responsibilities and became a mainstay of the team.
Hayes showed a vigorous and energetic quality on the court, injecting strong momentum into the Lakers. He excels in defense, rebounding scrambles, and nimble movement.
In addition, Hayes showed excellent ability in basketball nose and offensive awareness, where he made 8 of 6 shots and contributed 16 points and 10 rebounds. The Lakers benefited from Hayes's beastly energy and managed to find a way to break through the difficult situation.
Hachimura cemented the Lakers' lead in the game with his excellent shooting touch and performance in key moments. Although his stats may not be impressive, Hachimura's shooting performance helped the Lakers successfully block the Celtics' comeback at key moments in the game.
Overall, in the face of the double absence of thick eyebrows and James, the whole team showed excellent comprehensive strength, with remarkable defensive effects, sufficient firepower, and momentum. Under the leadership of Reaves and Hayes, the Lakers players fought tenaciously and the overall roster was layered, which became a key factor in the Lakers' success in beating the Celtics in a disadvantage.