Lakers Face Celtics Amid Star Injuries in High-Stakes Matchup

LOS ANGELES, California — The Los Angeles Lakers are riding a season-best eight-game winning streak as they prepare for a road matchup against the Boston Celtics on Saturday, March 8, at TD Garden. Both teams are performing exceptionally well, making this game a potential NBA Finals preview.

The Lakers previously defeated the defending champion Celtics in Los Angeles but enter this game missing key players, including starters Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes. Hachimura continues to recover from a knee injury, while Hayes is sidelined due to a knee contusion. In contrast, the Celtics are back at full strength, except for Kristaps Porzingis, who is also injured.

Despite their absences, the Lakers will lean heavily on their star players, LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and emerging talent Austin Reaves. Coach JJ Redick expressed confidence in their ability to perform, citing their offensive potential. “We’ve had many situations where a player deals with some type of injury, and we’ve done a really good job of bouncing back,” Reaves noted.

The Celtics, currently riding a nine-out-of-11 game winning streak, are known for their three-point shooting, leading the league in attempts and ranking high in percentage. With the Lakers struggling defensively at times, their ability to limit the Celtics’ long-range shots will be critical to their success.

In the lead-up to the game, Redick emphasized the importance of addressing recent turnover issues, as the Lakers ranked among the bottom tier in turnover percentage since mid-February. “There’s always more than one factor why you’re turning the ball over,” Redick said, highlighting their need for improved offensive organization.

Furthermore, the injury woes continue for the Lakers as LeBron James downplayed concerns about a groin injury that kept him out of the final minutes of their recent game. “Not much concern,” James said. Initial assessments suggest he may miss 1-2 weeks, challenging the Lakers during their tight schedule.

The Lakers (40-22) currently hold second place in the Western Conference, just behind the Denver Nuggets. As they prepare for a crucial road trip that includes meetings with both the Celtics and the Nuggets, the team must adopt a collective effort in the absence of their stars to maintain their competitive edge.

The starting lineup projected for Saturday’s game includes Luka Doncic at point guard, Austin Reaves as shooting guard, Dorian Finney-Smith at small forward, LeBron James at power forward, and Jarred Vanderbilt at center. The Celtics will counter with Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Al Horford.

As the Lakers face this challenging stretch, they remain optimistic about their chances and the potential for a statement win against one of their biggest rivals, setting the tone for the final stretch of the season.