The Boston Celtics will face the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday (Feb. 1.) Two of the NBA’s most storied franchises, with a heated rivalry, will be going toe-to-toe in the TD Garden. However, excited fans may need to temper their expectations. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Lakers will be without superstar duo LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Cam Reddish and Gabe Vincent will also be missing from the Lakers rotation.
Conversely, Boston will have a fully healthy roster outside of Luke Kornet, who is listed as questionable due to a left hamstring strain. With LeBron and Davis both absent, the Celtics will be heavy favorites to secure a win against the Lakers.
However, given how both teams will be fired up and eager to secure a win, the Celtics will have to be wary of a trap game. The Celtics currently occupy the top spot in the Eastern Conference. The Lakers are ninth in the Western Conference, one game below .500.
With so much media attention and fan expectations on both team’s shoulders, it will be interesting to see who secures the win and gains bragging rights. The last time these two teams faced off in Boston, the game ended in controversy. Fans of both teams will be hoping that isn’t the case on Thursday.
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Probable starting lineups
Celtics
- Jrue Holiday
- Derrick White
- Jaylen Brown
- Jayson Tatum
- Kristaps Porzingis
Lakers
- D’Angelo Russell
- Austin Reaves
- Rui Hachimura
- Taurean Prince
- Jaxson Hayes
