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.

Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves powered the Los Angeles Lakers to an impressive 117-96 victory over the Boston Celtics on Thursday night. Davis scored 24 points, while Reaves added 23 in a dominant performance that saw the Lakers pull away early and never look back.

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,

Anthony Davis, LeBron James and Austin Reaves lead the way as the Lakers make 11 3-pointers during a dominant first half and dismiss the defending champs, 117-96.

Also, after not losing a single game by double digits from the start of the season through the end of December, the Celtics have since suffered defeats of 13, 13, 17 and 21 points, all in their last 10 games. Those also were the only games this season in which Boston failed to score 100 points.

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,

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.

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

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