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Zeller helps Celtics beat Lakers

Dec 6, 2014 - 7:33 AM Boston, MA (SportsNetwork.com) - Tyler Zeller had 24 points on 10-of-11 shooting and pulled down 14 rebounds in the Boston Celtics' 113-96 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.

Jeff Green added 19 points for the Celtics, who have won two in a row since a five-game skid. Jared Sullinger tallied 17 points and 13 boards, Avery Bradley donated 16 points and Rajon Rondo scored 12 points and dished out 16 assists.

"Tyler's got that nice little flip shot at five or seven feet, where he can shoot it with either hand and he doesn't have to get all the way to the rim to finish," said Celtics coach Brad Stevens. "So Rondo looks for him, and that's a good thing."

Kobe Bryant ended with 22 points for the Lakers, who have dropped two straight. Nick Young and Jeremy Lin had 16 and 14 points, respectively.

"They really understand the game here," said Bryant. "When they get on me and they boo, I sincerely appreciate it because it means I'm doing something right, and I feel part of the history between the two ballclubs when they do that."

Holding a 15-9 lead, the Celtics went on a 10-0 run to build a 16-point margin. Boston shot 60.9 percent from the field in the first quarter en route to a 30-20 advantage.

The Lakers got within three multiple times in the second period, but Boston answered each time. Ahead 42-39 with 4:12 left, the Celtics used a 9-0 spurt to create some distance.

However, Los Angeles ended the half on a 9-2 run to get within 53-48.

The Celtics, though, put the game away with a dominant third quarter in which they outscored the Lakers by a 33-22 margin. Green scored 11 points in the frame to help Boston take an 86-70 lead.

Los Angeles never got closer than nine in the fourth.

Game Notes

The Lakers had won three straight against Boston ... The Celtics shot 51.1 percent from the field ... Boston turned the ball over 17 times, leading to 18 Los Angeles points.