BOSTON — Tyler Zeller had season highs of 24 points and 14 rebounds and the Boston Celtics went ahead for good less than two minutes into the game for a 113-96 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
The Lakers had cut a 92-78 deficit to 92-83 with 7:49 remaining on a three-point play by Nick Young. Then a basket by Avery Bradley began a 13-point Celtics run that put them ahead 105-83 with 3:54 left. They led by at least 17 the rest of the way.
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Kobe Bryant scored 22 points but made only 9 of 21 shots as the Lakers lost their second straight game after winning two in a row.
Boston won its second straight after losing their previous five as Jeff Green scored 19 points and Jared Sullinger had 17 points and 13 rebounds.
Jordan Hill gave Los Angeles a 3-0 lead with a three-point play. But a jumper by Bradley followed by a layup by Green with 10:45 to go gave Boston a lead it never lost
The rivalry between the now-struggling teams reached its height in the mid-80s when the teams led by Magic Johnson of Los Angeles and Larry Bird of Boston met for the NBA title three times with the Lakers winning twice. In their most recent title series, the Lakers won in seven games in 2009-10.
So Friday’s game was special to Celtics Coach Brad Stevens.
“It is unique to think (that) you’re driving downtown to play the Lakers,” he said. “It’s a unique, unique rivalry and it’s neat to be a part of.”
Leading 53-48 at halftime, the Celtics began the third quarter with a 10-3 run with Green scoring eight. That made it 63-51, but the Lakers cut the lead to 67-60 before the Celtics went on another spurt. This time they scored nine straight points, seven by Sullinger, and led 76-60 with 4:16 left in the third quarter.
Boston stayed ahead by 16, entering the fourth period with an 86-70 lead.
The Celtics used a 10-0 run to take a 25-9 lead on a layup by Rajon Rondo with 4:18 left in the first quarter. The Lakers cut that to 30-20 entering the second.
CAVALIERS 105, RAPTORS 91: LeBron James had 24 points and a season-best 13 assists, Kevin Love added 15 points and 13 rebounds, and Cleveland won its sixth straight game, in Toronto.
Tristan Thompson set season highs with 21 points and 14 rebounds, and Kyrie Irving scored 15 for Cleveland, unbeaten since a 110-93 home loss to Toronto on Nov. 22.
HORNETS 103, KNICKS 102: Kemba Walker drove for a left-handed layup as time expired to lift host Charlotte over New York, snapping the Hornets’ 10-game losing streak and extending the Knicks’ skid to seven games.
WIZARDS 119, NUGGETS 89: Kris Humphries scored 20 points, Rasual Butler and Kevin Seraphin each had 16 as Washington scored its biggest win of the season, beating Denver at home for its fourth straight victory.
THUNDER 103, 76ERS 91: Russell Westbrook had 27 points to lead Oklahoma City over hapless host Philadelphia.
It was the first win for the Thunder (6-13) with stars Kevin Durant and Westbrook back in the lineup together.
HAWKS 98, NETS 75: DeMarre Carroll scored 16 of his 18 points in the first half, and Atlanta won at Brooklyn for its fifth straight victory.
SPURS 107, GRIZZLIES 101: Manu Ginobili scored 17 points while Tim Duncan recorded a triple-double to lead San Antonio at Memphis.
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