Celtics Send Lakers To Sixth Straight Loss, 115-95
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Isaiah Thomas scored 18 points and the Boston Celtics rode a 70-point first half to a 115-95 rout of the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
Jae Crowder scored 10 of his 14 points in the first half, when the Atlantic Division-leading Celtics shot 51 percent on the way to opening their road trip 2-0.
Jordan Clarkson led the Lakers with 20 points off the bench in the third quarter in their sixth straight loss. They haven't won since before the All-Star break and have dropped four in a row at Staples Center.
Trailing by 31 in the third, Clarkson singlehandedly cut the Lakers' deficit to 15 by scoring their final 13 points. The Celtics managed just four points over the final 4 ½ minutes of the quarter, but took a 93-78 lead into the fourth.
Thomas drew aahs from the crowd with a pretty assist before the Lakers' run, tossing the ball off the glass to set up Jaylen Brown's dunk.
The Lakers went cold early in the fourth and the Celtics capitalized with a 10-0 run that extended their lead to 105-82. Brown scored six in a row in the spurt while Thomas watched from the bench.
Boston closed the first half on a 19-6 run, with five different players contributing, led by Thomas' six points. A pair of 3-pointers by Nick Young accounted for the Lakers' only points.
D'Angelo Russell added 17 points for the Lakers, while Al Horford had 17 for the Celtics.
TIP-INS
Celtics: Their 70 points in the first half were a season high. ... C Tyler Zeller was out sick.
Lakers: Longtime Lakers fan Dyan Cannon walked over to team co-owner Jeanie Buss and hugged her during a timeout. Buss is embroiled in a power struggle with her brothers over control of the team.
UP NEXT
Celtics: Visit Phoenix on Sunday in the second game of a five-game trip before returning to LA to play the Clippers on Monday in a back-to-back.
Lakers: Host New Orleans on Sunday, a team they've split games with this season.
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