Lakers end losing streak with win over Celtics

FILE – Head coach Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks to the team during a timeout during the second half of a game against the Chicago Bulls at Staples Center on January 08, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Haffey/Getty Images/AFP

Anthony Davis scored 27 points to fuel the Los Angeles Lakers, who ended their two-game NBA losing streak in dramatic style Saturday with a 96-95 victory over the Celtics in Boston.

A well-rested Davis, who sat out the Lakers’ loss to the Pistons in Detroit on Thursday with a bruised thigh, added 14 rebounds for the reigning NBA champions.

LeBron James finished with 21 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the reigning NBA champions, who bounced back after defeats in Philadelphia and Detroit.

“We’re a team that takes pride in not losing two in a row and we lost two in a row,” Davis said. “For damn sure we weren’t losing three in a row.”

It was a close-run game, however.

Jayson Tatum scored 30 points and pulled down nine rebounds for the Celtics and Jaylen Brown added 28 points.

It was a one-point game when Boston’s Marcus Smart departed with 10:28 remaining after a fall that left him with what the Celtics said was a calf strain.

James drained a three-pointer to put the Lakers up 88-85 with 5:25 remaining and the Lakers pushed the lead to as many as seven points before the Celtics again narrowed the gap.

Tatum cut the deficit to 96-95 with 32.8 seconds remaining.

Boston’s Kemba Walker blocked a Davis shot but missed at the other end. Teammate Daniel Theis grabbed the rebound but couldn’t get his follow-up effort to fall.

The victory was especially satisfying, Davis said, not necessarily for the long history between two clubs that own 17 NBA titles apiece but because of what happened the last time the Lakers played in Boston in March.

“We got a little revenge,” Davis said. “This team beat us by 30 the last time we were in this building.”