Celtics roar back to defeat Lakers in OT 125-121

Saturday night the Boston Celtics hosted the Los Angeles Lakers as part of the NBA’s rivalry week, and the league’s two most iconic franchises did not disappoint. It was an instant classic, with the Celtics overcoming an 11-point deficit to steal a 125-121 win in overtime.

Boston may have been without its best defenders thanks to injuries to Robert Williams III and Marcus Smart, but the defense looked pretty good overall. And as Boston’s offense spun its tires for much of regulation, the defense kept the team afloat. Beyond a monster game by LeBron James, the Los Angeles Lakers offense was kept largely at bay.

Malcolm Brogdon deserves particular praise for the Celtics. On a night where Boston’s stars took a while to get going,

Brogdon turned in an important 26 points and 6 rebounds on 8-for-15 shooting. Jaylen Brown eventually came alive, but credit Brogdon for keeping the Celts in this one.

With the win, Boston snapped a three-game losing streak, and now the team has a few days off before hosting Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets. Here’s what you may have missed from Saturday’s exciting tilt between the Lakers and the Celtics.

Boston's defense held its own

Boston’s top defensive talents were out for this game, as both Robert Williams III and Marcus Smart are dealing with ankle sprains. And though their services were certainly missed, the Celtics did perfectly fine on the defensive end.

The team got a few nice performances from Lonnie Walker IV and Anthony Davis off the bench, and LA did log 30 assists as a team. But all told, the Celtics defense deserves big kudos for keeping things in reach.

Los Angeles came into tonight’s action averaging 117.0 points per game, the No. 5 highest mark in the NBA (right behind Boston’s 117.6). The Celtics were able to keep the Lakers from getting too hot too often, allowing just enough time for the Celts to mount a comeback.

Brown and Tatum got it done in the end

Jaylen Brown made some of the biggest plays for the Celtics down the stretch, including a critical and-1 to force overtime. Despite a very choppy performance for most of the evening and 5 personal fouls, Brown was the hero for Boston.

Brown finished with 37 points and 9 rebounds, including 17 points during the fourth quarter and overtime.

Jayson Tatum may have stuffed the stat sheet, but he too was far from efficient or fully in control. Though he scored 30 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, he also spent much of the game trying to find a rhythm. Brown and Tatum shot a combined 21-for-48 from the field. Good enough to grab a win, but pedestrian enough to keep things interesting.

Malcolm Brogdon was the key stabilizing force for Boston, while the stars got into gear.  Derrick White, Al Horford, and Grant Williams also proved critical down the stretch for Boston, and the Celtics supporting cast gave the home team crucial defensive stops in the fourth quarter and overtime.

LeBron James was simply brilliant

LeBron James and the Boston Celtics have a long history. And throughout his career, he’s consistently played some of his best basketball against the Celts. Saturday’s game was no different. James had 41 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists.

James was the focal point of everything the Lakers did, granting the Lakers considerable poise on the offensive end. LA is an otherwise average team when James is on the bench. His team needed everything he had to offer. (He may have also been robbed of a chance to shoot free throws at the final horn.)

Like Jayson Tatum, James was just named a starter for this year’s NBA All-Star Game. February’s game will mark the 19th time James has suited up for a All-Star weekend. In fact, the last such game was in 2004 — a month before Jayson Tatum turned 6 years old.

Some things are bigger than basketball

Regardless of the final score, the most important takeaway from Saturday had little to do with hoops. Some things are much more important than sports.

Prior to the game, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla spoke about the passing of Tyre Nichols. Mazzulla offered prayers to Nichols, his family, and to the city of Memphis. Nichols, 29, recently died following a violent assault by city police officers during a routine traffic stop.

Mazzulla extended his sincere condolences to the Nichols family, and also spoke about systemic violence in our society. Lakers head coach Darvin Ham shared similar sentiments during his pregame press conference. The Celtics held a moment of silence prior to the game as well.

It was a series of relatively small gestures, but powerful and important ones in their own way.

Boston’s next game will be at home Wednesday night against the Brooklyn Nets.

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Story originally appeared on Celtics Wire