Celtics skid reaches four after a tough loss to the Lakers in LA, 108-107


The Boston Celtics dropped their fourth straight game after a shot from Marcus Smart that would have won the game rattled out and they took the L, 108-107. This loss was particularly bad, certainly one of the worst of the season for the C's. They were out-rebounded, out-muscled, and out-hustled by the young Lakers squad that they should have been able to dispatch with ease. Kyle Kuzma lit the Celtics up in the 2nd half, totaling 28 points while shooting 62.5% from the floor. Julius Randle notched 14 points and 14 rebounds and Jordan Clarkson scored 22 off the bench.

Kyrie Irving scored 33 for the C's, and Smart had a solid night shooting the ball, last shot aside, as he shot 7 for 13 from the floor (4-10 from three) for 22 points to go along with 8 assists, and freshly minted All Star Al Horford chipped in 13 points, 12 boards, 6 assists, and a pair of blocks in his 32 minutes on the floor.

Brad Stevens said before tonight's game that it was important to set the tone early by playing solid defense, and well, that they did. The Celtics held the Lakers to a season low 15 points in the opening quarter.


New guy Jarell Eddie made his C's debut at the start of the 2nd quarter. Eddie only got off one attempt in his first stint on the floor and it didn't go, which fit in well for a Celtics team that struggled to shoot the ball early in the game, but the Celtics managed to right their shooting woes late in the 2nd and they finished with an 8-point lead at the halfway mark.

Three Celtics finished the half in double-figures and Marcus Smart led all scorers at the break with 15 points and 4 assists. Clarkson led the Lakers with 14 points off the bench in the 1st half.


The Lakers rallied back in the 3rd to take the lead heading into the 4th, then Kuzma went off:


The Celtics managed to keep it close late, and a pair of missed free-throws from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope with 5.4 seconds to go and the C's down just one gave them a chance to steal a win. But with no timeouts left for the green, Marcus Smart had to push the ball quickly up the floor, and he chose to fire off the potential game winner himself:



Tough play with the clock winding down. He should have pushed the ball up to Rozier to see if they could get something going to the basket, but it is what it is.

That marks four losses in a row for the C's. they won't have long to think about it as the 2nd leg of their LA back-to-back picks up tomorrow night against the Clippers.


Photo Credit - USA Today

Follow Mark on Twitter: @MarkAL401



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