Boston has been inconsistent for weeks — a stark difference from last season’s joyride — but is still among the best defending NBA champions of this century.

Anthony Davis scored 24 points, Austin Reaves added 23 and the Los Angeles Lakers cruised to a 117-96 victory over the Boston Celtics on Thursday night.

The Los Angeles Lakers came up with a statement victory over the Boston Celtics, aiding JJ Redick in his quest for 'sanity' after the unimaginable toll of losing his home in the LA wildfires

LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves combine for 67 points as the Lakers put on a show in a dominant, 117-96 win over the rival Boston Celtics.

Los Angeles Lakers Top Performers Anthony Davis – 24 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks Austin Reaves – 23 points, 6 assists, 4 3PM LeBron James – 20 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists Boston Clippers Top Performers Kristaps Porziņģis – 22 points,

The Celtics looked precisely like a team on the second night of a back-to-back on Thursday, falling in a 117-96 blowout to the Lakers.

The Los Angeles Lakers had no trouble with the defending champions on Thursday. The Lakers looked like the best version of themselves as they dismantled

LeBron James and Anthony Davis combined to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 117-96 thumping of the defending champion Boston Celtics on Thursday.

Anthony Davis recorded 24 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots to help the Los Angeles Lakers roll to an easy 117-96 victory over the visiting Boston Celtics on Thursday night. Austin Reaves had 23 points and six assists and LeBron James added 20 points,

Playing their fifth game in seven nights, the Celtics were run off the Crypto.com Arena court by LeBron James and Co., losing 117-96. It was the most lopsided defeat of the season for Boston, which came in riding a two-game win streak. The Celtics dropped to 31-14 on the season and 10-9 in their last 19 games.

LeBron James and Anthony Davis combined to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 117-96 thumping of the defending champion Boston Celtics on Thursday.