Boston Celtics Complete Historic Comeback Against Lakers in NBA Thriller

The Boston Celtics completed one of the most remarkable comebacks in NBA history last night, overturning a 28-point deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 128-126 in a thrilling overtime contest at TD Garden. The victory marks the largest comeback in Celtics franchise history and extends their winning streak to eight games.

Trailing 89-61 midway through the third quarter, the Celtics appeared destined for defeat against a Lakers team that had controlled the game from the opening tip. LeBron James and Anthony Davis combined for 42 points through three quarters, while the Celtics struggled with turnovers and poor shooting from beyond the arc.

The turning point came when Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla switched to a full-court press defense with 8:47 remaining in the fourth quarter. The aggressive defensive scheme forced six Lakers turnovers in a four-minute span, igniting a 24-6 run that brought the home crowd to their feet. Jayson Tatum sparked the rally with three consecutive three-pointers, cutting the deficit to single digits for the first time since the opening minutes.

With 42 seconds remaining in regulation, Jaylen Brown's steal and fast-break dunk tied the game at 118-118, sending TD Garden into a frenzy. The Lakers had one final possession to win in regulation, but James' contested jumper rimmed out, forcing overtime.

In the extra period, both teams traded baskets before Tatum delivered the decisive blow with a step-back three-pointer over Davis with 23 seconds remaining. The Lakers' final attempt fell short as Davis' tip-in rolled off the rim at the buzzer.

Tatum finished with 45 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Brown added 33 points in the comeback victory. James led the Lakers with 38 points and 11 assists, but the veteran forward was visibly frustrated with his team's inability to close out the game. The loss drops Los Angeles to 32-24 on the season, while Boston improves to 38-18 and maintains their grip on the second seed in the Eastern Conference.