Banged up Celtics beat LA for 10th straight win

BOSTON — The Celtics are piling up injuries almost as quickly as they are victories this season.

Aron Baynes matched his career high with 21 points, Kyrie Irving scored 19 and Boston overcame injuries to Al Horford and Jayson Tatum to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 107-96 on Wednesday night for their 10th straight win.

Baynes also had eight rebounds and three assists, and Boston improved to 10-2 even as Horford sat out after being placed in concussion protocol earlier in the day. The Celtics then lost rookie forward Tatum late in the second quar- ter, when he went to the locker room with a sore right ankle.

Coach Brad Stevens said Tatum had X-rays and was fitted with a walking boot as a precaution. He will be reexamined on Thursday.

It’s yet another blow for a team that lost Gordon Hayward for the season after a gruesome leg injury on opening night.

“Until we have only four left, I guess we’re just gonna keep playing,” Stevens said.

Boston led by 20 in the second quarter before letting the lead shrink to two in the third. Los Angeles then struggled down the stretch, shooting 5 of 18 from the field with six turnovers in the final period.

Brandon Ingram and Jordan Clarkson led the Lakers with 18 points apiece. Julius Randle had 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Celtics fans gave rookie Lonzo Ball an icy welcome in his first trip to TD Garden. They booed the No. 2 overall pick throughout the night whenever he touched the ball. He finished with nine points, six assists and five rebounds, making just 4 of 15 from the field.

With Tatum sidelined in the second half, Boston struggled defensively, and the Lakers exploited the paint for several easy baskets.

“They hit us in the mouth and we were kind of shocked,” Kyle Kuzma said. “The second quarter and the second half we fought back.”

Irving banged up and had his right leg examined by trainers between the third and fourth quarters. He came back with just over six minutes to play and immediately made an impact, scoring back-to-back baskets to push Boston’s lead back to 100-90.

The Celtics led by 4828 in the second quarter but were outscored 24-13 over the final 6:51 of the half to let the Lakers back into the game. AP