With Pat Riley watching, Lakers routed by Celtics in rivalry game

Every current Lakers realized that playing the Boston Celtics on national television was actually more than just one of the 82 games on the schedule.

It was crystallized even further because iconic former Lakers coach Pat Riley sat courtside after a celebration for the unveiling of his statue in Star Plaza outside Crypto.com Arena. He was the first Lakers coach to beat the hated Celtics for an NBA championship after eight failed attempts.

So yes, this Sunday afternoon, this game meant more if only because it was another game in the long rivalry, a game that the Lakers lost, 111-89.

Luka Doncic had 25 points for the Lakers but he was just nine of 22 from the field. LeBron James had 20 points but was only nine of 21 from the field.

It was the second time this season that the Lakers scored in the 80s, and it was also a loss.

For a team that entered the game with a league-best 50% field goal percentage, it wasn’t a good sign for the Lakers’ offense when their shooting dropped to 36.8% in the second quarter. They shot 39.1% for the game and 30% (nine of 30) from three-point range.

“We had a really good look,” James said. “I think they had a good game plan defensively, forcing us to take some shots…I mean, look, sometimes you have to make shots. And they made some shots at the right time and we didn’t do it. We didn’t give ourselves good chances on the offensive end. I think defensively we held serve as long as we could. But offensively, we didn’t give ourselves good chances.”

It was evident the Lakers felt the intensity of the rivalry when Austin Reaves and Marcus Smart received technical fouls in the second quarter and coach JJ Redick committed one in the third.

They weren’t happy with the officiating that didn’t get their way against an aggressive Celtics defense.

Perhaps, Doncic was asked, the Lakers lost some focus on offense because of the complaints that led to the T’s.

“Maybe… You’re surprised it’s not me, huh?” he said. “Then you know it’s bad.”

Doncic laughed.

But what the Lakers were really concerned about was trying to deal with the Celtics and their three-point shooters.

The Celtics (37-19) entered the game making 42.4 threes per game, the third-highest output in the NBA, and making 15.4, also the third-highest.

On cue, the Celtics shot 14 of 36 from three-point range.

The Lakers (34-22) fell behind by 18 points with 4:46 left in the fourth quarter after Jaylen Brown fouled while scoring. He made the free throw, then followed with a three-point basket to put the Lakers in a 21-point hole.

Brown finished with 32 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

But the Lakers’ real problem was not being able to slow down Payton Pritchard. He had 30 points coming off the bench, making 10 of 14 shots and six of nine three-pointers.

His three-pointer gave the Celtics a 22-point lead and forced Redick to call a timeout with 3:22 remaining. Redick withdrew his entries, knowing it was over.

“You talk about personnel and how good Jaylen Brown is and how good Payton Pritchard is,” Redick said. “Really, where this team kills you is when they can put you in the mixer and take threes. They can shoot 51 and they’re going to make 20. They’re that good. Trying to limit that is the most important thing when you’re going against these guys. And you have to be willing to live with contested jumpers off the dribble. Pritchard made a lot of those tonight. He played a great game.”

James said he watched part of Riley’s halftime ceremony.

James played for the Miami Heat for four years under the watchful eye of Riley. The Heat have appeared in four NBA Finals and won two championships.

Riley left an indelible impression on James.

“I went out for a little while, sat on the bench during halftime before we met,” James said. “Look, he’s one of the all-time greats to ever be a part of this league. Not just a player – coach, executive, front office, everything. Obviously, what he did here for the Lakers organization in the ’80s goes without saying and rightfully so, he has a statue outside of his building. Obviously, I spent four years with him. I have the utmost respect for him, for his family and everything. So, it’s pretty cool.”