:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53530523/usa_today_9914912.0.jpg)
LOS ANGELES- The only thing uglier than the early stages of the looming legal battle for control of the Los Angeles Lakers was the first half of the team’s game against the Boston Celtics. The Celtics led by as much as 31 before the Lakers’ fought back for a marginally more slightly-more-respectable 20-point loss.
Ivica Zubac (eight points on eight shots with three assists) showed some nice flashes for Los Angeles, and the team’s bench unit mostly fueled a 33-23 third quarter that let the Lakers cut the lead to just 13 before the Celtics pushed back and closed out.
Dark-horse MVP candidate and player who once wanted to sign with the Lakers while they waited on Carmelo Anthony in free agency Isaiah Thomas lit the Lakers up for 18 points in 25 minutes. It was a team effort from Boston, whose entire starting five scored in double figures.
Losing the Celtics always stinks, but losing in this fashion, even despite the tanking implications, is far from ideal.
The Lakers will practice Saturday before they host the Pelicans Sunday.
All stats per NBA.com and Basketball-Reference.com. Harrison Faigen is co-host of the Locked on Lakers podcast (subscribe here), and you can follow him on Twitter at @hmfaigen.