BOSTON — The Lakers faced their most challenging on-court test on Saturday since Luka Doncic made his debut for the team nearly a month ago.
And despite a strong late comeback attempt, the Lakers didn’t overcome their 22-point third-quarter deficit, falling to the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics 111-101 on Saturday at TD Garden, ending their season-best winning streak at eight games.
And to make matters worse, LeBron James’ status going forward was unknown after he had to leave the game early because of a groin injury.
The Lakers (40-22), who were without starting big man Jaxson Hayes (bruised right knee) and forward Rui Hachimura (left patellar tendinopathy), cut their deficit to four with Luka Doncic (34 points, eight rebounds and three assists) leading the way.
After struggling in the first half, having as many turnovers (three) as made shots in the first two quarters, Doncic spearheaded the Lakers’ comeback attempt.
He scored nine of their 13 third-quarter points and scored 14 in the fourth, including making a pair of free throws to cut the Lakers’ deficit to 96-92 with five minutes left after they trailed 80-58 midway through the third.
But that was the closest the Lakers got, with Jayson Tatum (40 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists) and Jaylen Brown (31 points, six rebounds) leading the Celtics (46-18) in closing out the game.
James finished with 22 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists but didn’t play the final 6:44 because of a strained groin.
It wasn’t immediately clear how or when James suffered the injury, but he signaled to the Lakers’ bench for a timeout to be called after Brown made a layup to put the Celtics up 94-85 with 6:44 remaining.
James appeared to stretch the injured area out during the timeout but went back to the locker room and didn’t return.
The Lakers, starting a smaller lineup featuring Jarred Vanderbilt in place of Hayes, started strong, spreading the Celtics defense out and staying disciplined defensively.
They jumped out to a 20-12 lead that shrunk to being tied 33-apiece at the end of the first quarter once the Celtics’ 3-pointers started to fall.
Boston led 58-54 at halftime.
The Lakers shot 5 for 23 from the field, 1 for 10 on 3s, and had six turnovers during the third, which the Celtics won 29-13.
James’ layup at the 1:39 mark of the third was the Lakers’ first non-Doncic basket of the third.