Austin Reaves voiced frustration after the Los Angeles Lakers fell 111–89 to the Boston Celtics, pointing to three technical fouls that disrupted the team's rhythm. Reaves questioned the call that led to his own technical, saying he did not believe his reaction deserved the whistle.
Sunday night brought another chapter in the historic rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics, but this time the game slipped away from the Purple and Gold. The Celtics controlled the tempo and secured a 111–89 win, leaving the Lakers searching for answers after a tough road performance.
While the final score was frustrating on its own, Austin Reaves pointed to the officiating as a major source of tension during the matchup. The Lakers were hit with three technical fouls, which added to the emotional swing of the game and disrupted their rhythm.
"I thought JB elbowed Marcus in the face. I didn't say anything disrespectful, but he told me I got a tech because I clapped my hands on just an offensive foul," Reaves recalled, per Lakers reporter Khobi Price.
"He [the official] told me it's an automatic tech when you clap toward a ref. I've heard way more disrespectful things said to officials, and no tech or anything. But yeah, there's a level of frustration."
Marcus Smart and JJ Redick were also assessed technical fouls, with Redick drawing one after reacting strongly to the original call. Those moments shifted momentum and made it harder for Los Angeles to stay locked in on both ends of the floor.
Despite the setback, the Lakers remain 34–22 and tied for fifth place in the Western Conference after the All-Star break. However, the margin for error in the West is thin, with the Phoenix Suns only two games behind in seventh.
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