BOSTON — Once the Lakers’ injury report for Friday night was released, revealing that they would be without Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Marcus Smart against the Boston Celtics on the second night of a back-to-back set, the onus was once again implicity on Austin Reaves to raise his play to an even higher level.

And after a slow start, Reaves eventually did, leading the Lakers with 36 points and eight assists. But it wasn’t nearly enough to make up for the overall struggles of the Lakers, who fell to the Celtics, 126-105, at TD Garden one night after beating the Toronto Raptors.

The loss dropped the Lakers to 16-6 for the season and 1-1 on a trip that ends Sunday night against the Philadelphia 76ers – a game that could see Doncic return to the lineup.

Jaylen Brown had 30 points and eig

See Full Page