Though Luka Dončić’s fourth-quarter explosion showed he is capable of keeping the Lakers in big games, LeBron James’ fourth-quarter groin injury will loom large after this loss, which snapped Los Angeles’ eight-game win streak. With 6:44 left in the game, James called for a timeout and eventually headed to the locker room with a left groin strain.

The Celtics will look to avenge their January 23 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers when the two teams meet Saturday night at TD Garden. That 117-96 defeat came against a different-looking Lakers squad — one that featured Anthony Davis but did not yet have Luka Doncic,

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown showed up big-time for the Celtics in what was a big-time matchup against the Lakers on Saturday night.

Over 87 combined minutes, Brown and Tatum scored 71 of their team’s 111 points, while Brown had the energy on defense to bother Luka Dončić.

Behind the NBA's hottest new duo, LeBron James and Luka Dončić, the Los Angeles Lakers entered Saturday night's showdown with the Boston Celtics on an eight-game winning streak that had vaulted them up the Western Conference standings and firmly into the championship conversation.