Los Angeles Lakers vs Boston Celtics Box Score on Nov 08, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Nov 8, 2017

BOSTON -- Aron Baynes matched his career high with 21 points, and the Boston Celtics won their 10th consecutive game, holding off the Los Angeles Lakers 107-96 on Wednesday night.

The Celtics (10-2) played the entire game without Al Horford (concussion) and the second half without rookie Jayson Tatum (ankle). Boston built a 21-point first-half lead before the young Lakers (5-6) battled back.

Los Angeles got as close as two points down with 5:43 left in the third quarter, but the Celtics were able to grow the lead back to double digits in the fourth.

Baynes also grabbed eight rebounds and had three assists. Boston's Kyrie Irving overcame a poor shooting night to finish with 19 points, six rebounds and five assists. Marcus Morris (starting for Horford) had 18 points, and Terry Rozier added 14 points and eight rebounds.

Irving was just 7 of 21 from the floor and missed all seven shots from 3-point range.

Brandon Ingram and Jordan Clarkson had 18 points apiece, and Julius Randle contributed 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers.

Los Angeles rookie Lonzo Ball, booed lustily during introductions and every time he touched the ball (his father said he didn't want him to play in Boston), had nine points, six assists and five rebounds. He was just 4 of 15 from the floor and is 10 of 41 in the past three games, 2 of 16 from 3-point range. However, he committed only two turnovers in 39 minutes.

Tatum left the game at halftime with ankle soreness after scoring five points in nine first-half minutes.

His exit shortened the first pro matchup of Tatum, the No. 3 pick in the draft after the Celtics traded down from No. 1, and Ball, the No. 2 selection.

The Lakers were guilty of 21 turnovers as their two-game winning streak ended.

NOTES: Boston C Al Horford, who took a shot to the head from Atlanta's Kent Bazemore on Monday night, finished that game but started experiencing concussion symptoms Wednesday morning. ... With Horford out, F Marcus Morris started, coach Brad Stevens saying, "I don't expect anybody to be Al. I think we have to replace what he does by committee." ... With Lonzo Ball's brother LiAngelo one of three UCLA players arrested in China for alleged shoplifting, Lonzo Ball said, "I'm just trying to focus on the game." ... Former Celtics star Paul Pierce, whose No. 34 will be retired Feb. 11, was in the building with ESPN and received a video tribute and loud ovation. ... C Andrew Bogut was active for the first time as a Laker. He played six scoreless minutes.