The Celtics pull off a runaway OT win after exchanging a fourth quarter meltdown with the Lakers

For a few minutes, it looked like a Los Angeles Lakers They were having the best win of their season. then Boston Celtics I woke up.

In one of the fiercest NBA games of the season, the Celtics defeated the Lakers 122-118 in overtime on Tuesday. It shouldn’t have been a very notable game considering Boston had a 20-point lead midway through the third quarter, and yet it was thanks to LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

The Lakers star twins led their team on a 32-5 run between the third and fourth quarters to take a double-digit lead with only a few minutes remaining. Crypto.com Arena was rocking, but the team was unfortunately gassed.

The Celtics responded with a comeback, eventually finding themselves trailing by two points. With about 45 seconds left, the Lakers had the ball, but a brutal free throw by Davis left the door open for one. Jason Tatum To send the game into overtime:

Overtime saw a smaller Celtics comeback. Lakers moved up four points with consecutive baskets Russell Westbrookthen watched the Celtics score on four consecutive possessions to take a 119-114 lead they would never relinquish.

Tatum finished with 44 points on 15-of-29 shooting (5-of-10 from depth) with nine rebounds and six assists, continuing his preseason MVP campaign. Jaylen Brown He had 25 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and three rebounds.

Meanwhile, James had 33 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, while Davis had 37 points and 12 rebounds.

It’s odd to call a game the team with the best record in the NBA should win, but the Celtics have had two straight losses, one of them being an embarrassing blowout in the same arena against Los Angeles Clippers. Losing to the Lakers, now 11-16, would have sparked a mini scare after a dream start to the season.

Instead, the Lakers are left looking for answers. The Celtics were clearly favored, but the veteran team’s fatigue displayed should inspire some uncomfortable questions for anyone who thought a midseason surge might be coming to Los Angeles.