Jaylen Brown Drops 30, Celtics Dominate Short-Handed Lakers 126-105/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Jaylen Brown scored 30 points as the Boston Celtics rolled to a 126-105 win over a depleted Lakers squad missing LeBron James and Luka Doncic. Boston hit a season-high 24 three-pointers and led wire to wire. Austin Reaves led L.A. with 36 points, while Bronny James made his TD Garden debut.
Celtics vs. Lakers Blowout Quick Looks
- Jaylen Brown scored 30 points with 8 rebounds and 8 assists.
- Celtics made a season-high 24 three-pointers and had 31 assists.
- Boston has won four straight and six of their last seven.
- Lakers were without LeBron James (sciatica, foot arthritis) and Luka Doncic (personal).
- Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 36 points and 8 assists.
- Bronny James scored 5 points in his first TD Garden appearance.
- Celtics led by 29 in the second quarter, never trailed.
- Lakers briefly cut it to 15 before Boston pulled away again.
- Jordan Walsh added 17 points off the bench for Boston.
- Lakers fall for just the second time in 10 games.
Deep Look: Jaylen Brown Powers Celtics Past Undermanned Lakers in 126–105 Win
BOSTON — Jaylen Brown delivered a commanding performance Friday night, leading the Boston Celtics to a 126–105 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, who were missing superstars LeBron James and Luka Doncic. Brown filled the stat sheet with 30 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists, spearheading an explosive offensive effort that left little doubt from the opening tip.
The Celtics extended their winning streak to four games and have now taken six of their last seven. With a combination of unselfish ball movement and red-hot shooting, Boston lit up the Lakers from beyond the arc, hitting a season-high 24 three-pointers on the night. The team also dished out 31 assists, reflecting the balanced offense that has become a hallmark of this current Celtics run.
Derrick White was instrumental from deep, connecting on five three-pointers en route to a 19-point outing. Rookie Jordan Walsh added 17 points, providing key contributions off the bench as Boston maintained full control throughout the game.
Lakers Without Stars, Reaves Shines in Defeat
The Lakers came into the game riding high, having won eight of their previous nine contests. But with LeBron James sidelined due to recurring sciatica and left foot arthritis, and Luka Doncic missing a second consecutive game for personal reasons, Los Angeles was outmatched from the start.
Still, Austin Reaves did everything he could to keep the Lakers afloat, finishing with 36 points and 8 assists in a standout performance. Gabe Vincent chipped in 18 points, but the Lakers struggled to find consistent scoring beyond their backcourt duo.
Boston took full advantage of L.A.’s depleted roster, jumping out to a 29-point lead in the second quarter and never trailing throughout the game. Though the Lakers cut the lead to 15 points heading into the fourth, the Celtics quickly reasserted dominance, stretching the margin back above 20 and sealing the result well before the final buzzer.
Bronny James Makes Garden Debut
One of the few bright spots for the Lakers came late in the fourth quarter, when Bronny James checked into the game with 6:38 remaining. Playing in front of his father, who watched from the bench in street clothes, Bronny scored 5 points on 2-of-3 shooting, adding an assist in his first appearance at TD Garden.
Bronny did not make the trip when the Lakers visited Boston last season, making this debut a small milestone despite the blowout loss.
Dominant Start and Finish for Boston
Boston wasted no time setting the tone, burying early threes and applying pressure on both ends of the floor. The Celtics’ defense forced the Lakers into contested shots, while the offense flowed through Brown and White with ease. By halftime, the Celtics had already built an insurmountable cushion.
Though Los Angeles attempted a brief comeback in the third quarter, the Celtics’ deep rotation and relentless pace extinguished any hopes of a dramatic rally. The win further cements Boston’s status as one of the league’s most balanced and dangerous teams when fully healthy and locked in.
With Tatum, Brown, and White all producing consistently, and bench players like Walsh stepping up, Boston’s depth appears to be rounding into shape as the season progresses.
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