The Los Angeles Lakers and head coach JJ Redick ended their eight-game winning streak in a 111-101 loss Saturday night to the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. While Luka Doncic supplied 34 points on 50% shooting from both the field and the three-point line, it was not enough to combat the scoring of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown who combined for 71 points in the contest.
21-time All-Star LeBron James injured his groin and was forced to exit after 35 minutes of action. The Lakers were already without two starters Jaxson Hayes (right knee contusion) and Rui Hachimura (left patellar tendinopathy) in the second rivalry game this season.
In LA's first loss since Feb. 19, Redick cited "brain fog" as the issue for his team.
"It was a little out of character for us, and I think that contributed as well to that 3rd quarter," said Redick. "We would call a play and we wouldn't actually run the play. Draw up an [after timeout play] and not have the right defender in the right spot. It was just out of character, and that got us stagnated."
Lakers head coach JJ Redick attributes tonight's 111-101 loss in Boston to "brain fog:"
"It was a little out of character for us, and I think that contributed as well to that 3rd quarter. We would call a play and we wouldn't actually run the play. Draw up an ATO and not have the… pic.twitter.com/a6DZ8dO0Un
— Tom Carroll (@yaboiTCfresh) March 9, 2025
Speaking with reporters prior to Monday's game against the Nets, Redick was more straightforward in assigning blame for Saturday's loss, saying it falls on him.
"JJ Redick said the Lakers were too 'unorganized' and players weren't in the right spots or getting to those spots quick enough in the second and third quarters vs. Boston," Jovan Buha of The Athletic wrote on X. "He said his messaging got lost in translation and took accountability saying that's on him."
JJ Redick said the Lakers were too "unorganized" and players weren't in the right spots or getting to those spots quick enough in the second and third quarters vs. Boston. He said his messaging got lost in translation and took accountability saying that's on him.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) March 10, 2025
Redick, who is receiving Coach of the Year consideration, has helped improve LA's record through 62 games this season (40-22), compared to the previous years when coached by Darvin Ham (33-29 last year, 29-33 in 2023).
Related: Luka Doncic Makes Two-Word Admission After Celtics Loss
Related: Celtics Announce Jayson Tatum Injury News After Lakers Game
Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published March 10, 2025 at 5:57 PM.