The Los Angeles Lakers will play their second game in as many days when they take on the Boston Celtics on Friday in the second game of a three-game road trip. They gained a 123-120 victory on Thursday over the Toronto Raptors when forward Rui Hachimura hit a 3-pointer as the final horn sounded, giving them a 16-5 record.
Luka Doncic didn’t play in Thursday’s game due to a personal matter, while LeBron James struggled for the second game in a row and didn’t reach double figures in scoring for the first time since the 2006-07 season. Unfortunately, the Lakers will be without Doncic again, as well as guard Marcus Smart, on Friday.
In addition, James will sit out due to sciatica and a left foot ailment.
This injury-related news doesn’t necessarily mean that Friday’s matchup will be an automatic loss for Los Angeles. Two seasons ago, when it made its annual trip to Boston, neither James nor Anthony Davis played, and yet it jumped on the Celtics early and came away with a 114-105 victory.
After Friday, L.A.’s next game will be on Sunday against the Philadelphia 76ers. It will then have two full days off before it hosts the San Antonio Spurs in the quarterfinal round of the Emirates NBA Cup.
