Overview
- Boston routed a shorthanded Lakers team 126-105 at TD Garden, hitting 24 three-pointers and leading wire-to-wire to complete a back-to-back.
- The surge has them around fifth in the East, with results backed by a top-tier point differential and an improving defensive profile.
- Jaylen Brown continued his star turn with 30 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists against Los Angeles and is posting career-best scoring and playmaking.
- Depth is driving the climb as Derrick White and Payton Pritchard supply timely scoring and Jordan Walsh, Neemias Queta, and Josh Minott carve out reliable roles.
- Jayson Tatum remains in Achilles rehab with no set timeline, with any late-season return only speculative as the front office weighs potential deadline additions.