Lakers vs. Celtics score, takeaways: LeBron James, Anthony Davis lead way as L.A. holds off late Boston charge

The longtime rivals met again, and the stars for both teams had big nights

The Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics renewed their storied rivalry on Saturday night, and this latest entry did not disappoint. After a back-and-forth affair, the Lakers escaped with a 96-95 victory after two last second efforts from the Celtics didn't go down. 

Anthony Davis had the ball stolen from him in the closing seconds, which led to the Celtics' game-winning opportunity, but overall he had a fantastic game. His 27 points and 14 rebounds were both team-highs, as he led the way and took advantage of a smaller Celtics team.

As usual, it was Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown leading the way for the Celtics. That young duo combined for 58 points on 25 of 37 from the field. The big story for the Celtics, though, is the health of Marcus Smart. He went down screaming in pain with what looked like a potential Achilles injury. The team announced that it is officially a calf strain, but Smart is set to get an MRI in the near future to determine the extent of the damage. 

Here are some key takeaways from the game:

Game lives up to the hype

Lakers vs. Celtics. LeBron James and Anthony Davis vs. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Primetime. Saturday night. National TV. On paper, this was everything you would want in a basketball game, but we know that things don't always go to plan in this sport. This time, however, they did. 

Sometimes you get competitive, well-played games where one team pulls away in the fourth quarter and there isn't much suspense. Sometimes you get pretty average games that end up in dramatic, exciting finishes. This was a rare case where we got both.

Not only did it go down to a last-second shot, but both teams and their stars were operating at a high level. It was just a really great game of basketball. Simple as that. 

AD shows off incredible shot-making

The Celtics needing additional size and defense in the paint has been a running theme for a few seasons now, and Anthony Davis was always going to be a tough matchup for them -- especially when the Lakers played their big lineup with Marc Gasol and LeBron James also out on the floor. 

Unsurprisingly, there were times where Davis punished the smaller Celtics during his 27-point, 14-rebound night. But it wasn't just a matter of him overpowering smaller defenders. The Celtics really made him work, and were able to force him into some tough looks. Davis made them anyway.

Look at this fadeaway in traffic:

Or this jumper after he briefly had the ball knocked away:

That's some impressive shot-making. 

Concern about Smart

Early in the fourth quarter, Marcus Smart was battling for a rebound with Montrezl Harrell when he collapsed to the ground screaming in pain. After staying down for some time, he was helped off the court, unable to put any pressure on his left leg. 

The team announced that he strained his left calf, and ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Smart will soon undergo an MRI to revel the full extent of the injury. If it is just a strain, that would be tremendous news for Smart and the Celtics, as his reaction and subsequent replays made it seem much worse. 

In particular, the way Smart stepped backward, had a ripple go up his calf and went to the ground was eerily similar to what happened when Kevin Durant tore his Achilles tendon in the 2019 Finals. Hopefully Smart's Achilles is not ruptured. 

[Jan 30, 2021 at 10:49 pm ET · Jack Maloney]

lakers turned it over which started a wild scramble. celtics secure the ball and kemba walker misses a jumper in the closing seconds, then theis misses a follow up. lakers escape with the win. what a game

[Jan 30, 2021 at 10:49 pm ET · Jack Maloney]

WOW okay

[Jan 30, 2021 at 10:47 pm ET · Jack Maloney]

tatum with the quick floater out of the time out to make it a one point game! lakers up 96-95 with just over 30 seconds left

[Jan 30, 2021 at 10:45 pm ET · Jack Maloney]

wow tatum with the clutch fadeaway and then lebron turns it over. all of a sudden its celtics ball down 3 in the final minute

[Jan 30, 2021 at 10:43 pm ET · Jack Maloney]

dennis schroder with a huge and one to put the lakers up 7 with 90 seconds to play

[Jan 30, 2021 at 10:42 pm ET · Jack Maloney]

late whistle on lebron and the whole lakers bench erupts

[Jan 30, 2021 at 10:39 pm ET · Jack Maloney]

seven turnovers for the celtics in the fourth quarter

[Jan 30, 2021 at 10:37 pm ET · Jack Maloney]

wow lol. lebron just jab stepped about half a dozen times as he sized up theis and then buried a three in his face

[Jan 30, 2021 at 10:35 pm ET · Jack Maloney]

https://twitter.com/wojespn/st...

[Jan 30, 2021 at 10:34 pm ET · Jack Maloney]

goodness anthony davis is unbelievable

[Jan 30, 2021 at 10:30 pm ET · Jack Maloney]

and now anthony davis is down. jaylen brown got him with a pump fake and stepped through and popped AD in the groin with an elbow. painful one but he should be fine

[Jan 30, 2021 at 10:28 pm ET · Jack Maloney]

back to the game it's all tied up now at 81-81 with eight minutes to play