EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Fans returned to Staples Center for a Lakers game Thursday, an important moment to savor after more than a year without them because of COVID-19 restrictions.
Unfortunately for the roughly 2,000 people in attendance, a late Lakers run wasn’t enough in a 121-113 loss to the Boston Celtics.
The Celtics couldn’t be stopped on offense by the short-staffed Lakers, who went without four key players after coming back from a lengthy road trip.
Boston starters outscored those of the Lakers, 95-44, as Celtics guard Jaylen Brown scored 40 points while making a scintillating 17 of 20 shots in 32 minutes.
The Lakers played good defense while going 4-3 on their recent road trip, keeping two teams below 100 points (Sacramento and Charlotte) and holding Brooklyn and Toronto to only 101.
Thursday’s game was a different story. Boston hit the Lakers for 61 points in the first half, 21 from Brown, on the way to a 13-point halftime lead.
The Celtics’ edge swelled to 27 points before a late 22-2 run by the Lakers’ reserves made it only a seven-point game. The Celtics’ starters were rushed back into the game by Coach Brad Stevens with 1:50 to play.
Ben McLemore’s dunk brought the Lakers within five with 1:18 to play, but Brown scored consecutive baskets to help Boston avoid a total collapse.
The Lakers played without numerous injured players, including the now-familiar names of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. They were joined by Andre Drummond (right big toe soreness) and Markieff Morris (sprained left ankle).
Dennis Schröder tried to play despite an infection in his right foot but looked a little off his game. He finished with eight points and eight assists.
Talen Horton-Tucker scored 19 points and Marc Gasol added a season-high 18 points for the Lakers.
“That’s Lakers basketball. We never give up," Schröder said. "The unit that was out there…that was a hell of a comeback by them.”
The Lakers plan to gradually increase the number of fans at their games, based on state and county guidelines. Ideally, they could reach full capacity (18,997) by mid-June if the state follows through with tentative plans to fully open up indoor arenas in two months.
For now, 2,000 fans seemed like a solid start. Especially after 401 days had passed without people in attendance at Lakers games.
“I did see them, I did hear them,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. “I know it’s not full capacity to where we want to be but it’s great to have our fans back … It just gave us a different level of energy and juice.”
There was other good news for the Lakers.
Davis was cleared Thursday for full on-court activities and could play soon, Vogel said. It was unlikely Davis would play Saturday against Utah or in the rematch next Monday against the Jazz, Vogel added, but next Thursday’s game in Dallas could be a logical choice for the All-Star’s landing spot.
Davis hasn’t played since Feb. 14 because of calf and Achilles’ tendon soreness. When he does return, he won’t log a ton of minutes right away — maybe 15 a game, Vogel said. Davis was averaging 32.8 minutes this season before he was injured.
There haven’t been any recent updates about James’ timetable to return from a severely sprained ankle.