BOSTON – While the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers may be miles apart when it comes to wins this season, a close game between these two rivals was a given regardless of their records.
True to form, both teams played a relatively close first half which ended with the Celtics ahead, 62-51.
Boston (31-18) came into the game having lost eight of its last 11 games to the Lakers.
But struggles of the past didn’t seem to be a predictor of the present with Boston racing out to a 7-0 lead against the Lakers (17-35).
The fast start was soon followed by a forgettable stretch in which the Lakers outscored the Celtics 15-7 to take their first of the game after a 3-pointer by D’Angelo Russell.
Los Angeles’ lead in the first quarter peaked at four points, but a 3-pointer at the end of the first quarter brought the Celtics within 30-29.
Boston began to assert itself in the second quarter courtesy of a 9-2 run capped off with a pair of Jaylen Brown free throws to lead 46-40 with 7:22 to play in half. The Celtics would push their lead to as many as nine points in the quarter.
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But the Lakers, what they lack in experience and team chemistry, they have plenty when it comes to flat-out talent.
Nick Young and second-year guard D’Angelo Russell carried the load through the first quarter while rookie Brandon Ingram, the No. 2 pick in last June’s NBA draft, got it going in the second quarter which is when he scored seven of his nine points in the first half.
Here are the Stars, Studs and Duds from the first half of Friday’s game.
STARS
Isaiah Thomas
It was only fitting that the final basket of the half was scored by Thomas who led all players with 14 first-half points, 12 of which came in the first.
Nick Young
It was a good first half for Young, who was the steadiest force scoring the ball for the Lakers in the first half. He led the Lakers with 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting.
STUDS
Jaylen Brown
The rookie is coming of age before our very eyes. He was very good at both ends of the floor for Boston, delivering solid defense with 10 first-half points on 3-for-5 shooting.
D’Angelo Russell
He spent most of the first half filling the stat sheet in several categories. At the half he had 11 points along with four assists and three rebounds.
DUDS
Celtics’ 3-point defense
The Lakers came in shooting 35.3 percent from 3-point range which ranked No. 23 in the NBA. But in the first half they connected on 44.4 percent (8-for-180 from 3-point range.