Celtics 111 - 118 Lakers
Final - OT
  for this game

Lakers renew rivalry with Celtics

Feb 22, 2015 - 3:44 PM

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(SportsNetwork.com) - A pair of storied franchises renew a longstanding rivalry Sunday evening, as the Los Angeles Lakers welcome the Boston Celtics to Staples Center.

The Lakers are mired in a seven-game losing streak and have lost 16 of the past 17 games, including Friday's 114-105 setback to the Brooklyn Nets.

Ed Davis posted 16 points and 14 boards, Jordan Hill provided 12 points and 10 rebounds and Jeremy Lin supplied 18 points for Los Angeles, which shot 46.1 percent and fell to 7-19 at home.

The Nets took a 96-77 cushion into the fourth quarter, where they led by as many as 22. Brook Lopez led Brooklyn with 22 points and 14 rebounds.

"In the first half we played pretty good, but in the second half they punched us and played rope-a-dope. We can't afford to take a quarter off. The effort tonight was unacceptable," Lakers coach Byron Scott said.

Los Angeles will visit Utah next on Wednesday.

The Celtics opened a three-game western trek on a sour note, dropping a 109-101 decision to the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.

Avery Bradley and Tyler Zeller scored 28 and 22 points, respectively, and Marcus Smart added 16 points. Brandon Bass added a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds for Boston, which had won four of five games.

Sacramento received 31 points and 15 rebounds from DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay added 28 points in the win.

"I thought Gay and Cousins just dominated the game. They made every big shot, every big play," Celtics coach Brad Stevens admitted.

Boston will close the trip Monday at Phoenix and are 8-17 as the guest.

The Celtics acquired point guard Isaiah Thomas on Thursday in exchange for guard Marcus Thornton and a first-round pick in 2016, which belonged to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Danny Ainge had been active already this season. He traded Rajon Rondo, Jeff Green, Jameer Nelson and Brandan Wright in the first half.

Thomas could make his Boston debut Sunday in LA.

The Celtics defeated the Lakers, 113-96, on Dec. 5 thanks to Zeller's 24 points and 14 rebounds. The Lakers have still won six of the past eight in this series and are unbeaten in the past three as the host.






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