Rondo's jumper at buzzer lifts Lakers over Celtics 129-128

Rajon Rondo hit a 20-foot jumper as time expired to lift the Los Angeles Lakers over the Boston Celtics, 129-128 on Thursday night.

LeBron James had 28 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists. Kyle Kuzma added 25 points and Rondo had 17 points and 10 assists to help Los Angeles bounce back after a 42-point loss at Indiana on Tuesday.

Rondo was in the right place at the right time for his final shot against the team he won an NBA title with in 2008. Brandon Ingram had his layup attempt blocked by Al Horford, but Horford whiffed on the rebound and the ball bounced into Rondo's hands.

Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving (11) goes to the hoop against Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma (0) in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, in Boston. (AP PhotoElise Amendola)

Kyrie Irving led Boston with 24 points and eight assists. Jayson Tatum added 22 points and 10 rebounds. Daniel Theis has 20 points off the bench but the Celtics had a five-game win streak snapped.

It ended a wild, speculation-filled day in which the NBA's trade deadline expired with one of the players potentially on the wish list of both the Lakers and Celtics staying with his current team.

Los Angeles attempted to put together a deal for New Orleans big man Anthony Davis, but the Pelicans held onto the All-Star despite him saying recently that he would not sign an extension and wanted to be traded. It means any potential suitor will have to wait until the summer to make a run at him.

Los Angeles Lakers center JaVale McGee (7) grabs a rebound against Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving (11), forward Jayson Tatum (0) and forward Marcus Morris (13) in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, in Boston. (AP PhotoElise Amendola)

The Lakers weren't completely quiet Thursday, trading Michael Beasley and Ivica Zubac to the Clippers for Mike Muscala.

But for now, James will have to go forward with most of a roster that improved to 2-2 since his return from a groin injury that kept him out of action a month.

TIP-INS

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum dribbles the ball past Los Angeles Lakers guard Rajon Rondo in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, in Boston. (AP PhotoElise Amendola)

Lakers: Shot 22 of 41 from the 3-point line.

Celtics: Were outscored 50-42 in the paint. . Shot 16 of 38 from the 3-point line.

WILD FINISH

Boston led by as many as 18 in the first half. The Lakers erased it in third quarter, connecting on nine of their 13 attempts from beyond the arc and outscoring the Celtics 42-27 in the period to retake the lead entering the fourth.

Boston Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca, right, chats with New England Patriots football head coach Bill Belichick and his girlfriend Linda Holliday before an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, in Boston. (AP PhotoElise Amendola)

But the Celtics responded with a 15-4 run to start the final period to get it back.

James and Irving traded shots down the stretch. In one exchange James' 3-pointer cut Boston's lead to 114-113. Irving then calmly responded with his own step-back 27-footer.

Later, it was Irving assisting on a big basket. With Boston leading 121-118, Irving drove into the middle of the Los Angeles defense and kicked it out to a wide-open Marcus Morris for a 3 with just 1:24 left.

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton instructs his players in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, in Boston. (AP PhotoElise Amendola)

But following an Irving turnover, James tied it with his own corner 3-pointer.

TOUGHER EAST

The Celtics stood mostly pat at the trade deadline, except for trading Jabari Bird to the Atlanta Hawks. The move opens a roster spot for the Celtics and allowed them part ways with a player who hasn't played this season after charged with beating up his girlfriend last September.

But two of the teams currently in front of them in the East did make some changes.

The Bucks, who had the best record in the NBA entering the day, picked up Nikola Mirotic in a deal with the Pelicans. The Raptors added former All-Star center Marc Gasol from Memphis in exchange for center Jonas Valanciunias.

"Those teams were already really good. And the assumption would only be that they'd only benefit from those moves," Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. "It will be quite a challenge. As we knew it would be."

UP NEXT

Lakers: Continue their six-game road trip at Philadelphia on Sunday.

Celtics: Host the Clippers on Saturday.

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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Suggs added 24 points and the Orlando Magic handed Cleveland the worst playoff loss in franchise history, winning 121-83 on Thursday night to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Franz Wagner finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Magic, who led by 43 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game. They earned their first playoff victory since 2019 and the first on their home floor since April 26, 2011.

They can even the series with a victory at home Sunday.

Jarrett Allen had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 39% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range. Caris LeVert added 15 points and Donovan Mitchell had 13 points and seven assists.

76ERS 125, KNICKS 114

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter to lead Philadelphia to a win over New York in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2.

With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive.

The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor overall, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.

NUGGETS 112, LAKERS 105

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and Denver moved to the brink of the second round with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series..

Jamal Murray scored 22 points as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with LeBron James and the Lakers in dominating style.

Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points for Denver, which took control in the third quarter and cruised through the final minutes to its fifth straight road win over Los Angeles, starting with its sweep of last season’s Western Conference finals.

Game 4 is Saturday night in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 playoff deficit.

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) makes a shot as he gets past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)