Celtics clinch 10th win in a row
Baynes leads team with 21 points
The injury-riddled Boston Celtics won their 10th straight game by cruising to a 107-96 win on Wednesday over the Los Angeles Lakers in a matchup between two of the NBA’s most storied franchises.
Australia’s Aron Baynes scored a career-high 21 points during the game, which saw the Celtics compile a 21-point first-half lead before the Lakers closed the gap in the third. But Los Angeles allowed the Celtics to pull away again in the fourth when it mattered most.
The 30-year-old Baynes, who was born in New Zealand but grew up in Cairns, Australia, also grabbed eight rebounds and had three assists in front of a crowd of 18,600 at the Boston Garden.
Boston’s Kyrie Irving overcame a poor shooting night to finish with 19 points, six rebounds and five assists.
But the banged-up Celtics are the hottest team in the NBA for a reason. They are getting contributions from everyone with different players stepping up each game. On Wednesday it was Baynes’ turn along with Marcus Morris, who had 18 points, and Terry Rozier who added 14 points and eight rebounds.
Brandon Ingram scored 18 points for the Lakers, who were guilty of 21 turnovers.
Wednesday also marked the first pro meeting between Celtics rookie and third overall pick Jayson Tatum and Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball. But the matchup was shortened after Tatum had to leave the game because of an ankle problem.
The Celtics effectively passed over Ball at the draft by trading down from the No.1 pick to get Tatum at No.3. The Celtics knew Tatum was going to be available in that position because the Lakers planned to take Ball at No.2.
Tatum finished with five points and had one rebound and one assist in nine minutes during the first half. He didn’t return for the second half.
The 19-year-old Tatum had been given a more prominent role because of an opening-night injury to Gordon Hayward. He has responded by averaging 14.3 points and 6.5 rebounds in his first 11 games.
Point guard Ball was loudly booed during the pre-game introductions and jeered every time he touched the ball. Celtics fans are still upset at his father LaVar Ball who said publicly that the younger Ball wouldn’t play for the Celtics.
Ball’s shooting woes continued on Wednesday as he finished with just nine points on four-of-15 shooting from the field in 39 minutes of playing time.
Ball is also dealing with the recent arrest of his younger brother LiAngelo Ball in China on suspicion of shoplifting.
Ball doesn’t think the case will be a distraction for him.
“I mean, it’s still my little brother. But I got to come out here and play,” he said.