Boston’s Jayson Tatum doesn’t take Friday’s Los Angeles Lakers showdown for granted; ‘Everybody knows the history between the two franchises’

‘As a competitor, you love those games and you love moments like that,’ said the St. Louis native of Friday’s game.

The Boston Celtics are keen to put Wednesday’s 110 – 99 road loss to the Atlanta Hawks behind them, but in so doing they need to turn their attention to the next opponent on the schedule, and in this case, it is not just any game looming large on the calendar.

The Celtics will face the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, and even in the worst of states, such a contest is always a bigger deal than usual. Now, with both teams aspiring to compete in earnest after rough starts, the game will take on a little added urgency given both clubs will be hungry for a win. Asked about the next game on Boston’s schedule after the Hawks loss, star forward Jayson Tatum had plenty to say.

“I think that game is special,” said Tatum. “Everybody knows the history between the two franchises.”