The Los Angeles Lakers got off to a strong start to the unofficial second half of their season on Friday with a narrow home win over the Los Angeles Clippers thanks to great play from Luka Doncic. They'll try to keep things going on Sunday with a big game at the Boston Celtics, in the latest edition of the NBA's most historic rivalry.
Before the game, the Lakers received a pep talk from an unexpected source: golf legend Tiger Woods.
"The Lakers continued their 'Genius Talks' series with a field trip to Riviera Country Club on Saturday for the Genesis Invitational, with Rob Pelinka arranging Tiger Woods' visit and address for the team," former NBA insider Dave McMenamin of ESPN reported on Twitter.
Previous guests on the series have included actor Will Smith, among others.
The Lakers will certainly need all the expertise they can get on Sunday against a Celtics team that has not lived up to expectations so far this season, looking like a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference despite playing without Jayson Tatum, who is close to returning from his Achilles injury.
The Celtics began their post-All-Star Game slate with a blowout win over the shorthanded Golden State Warriors on Thursday, and the Lakers will have to do their best to protect Boston wing Jaylen Brown, who has worked his way into fringe MVP conversations for his play so far this year.
Of course, the Celtics will have no easy task in themselves as they attempt to guard the Lakers' three-headed snake of Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves, who had a solid game against the Clippers on Friday.
In any case, the Lakers and Clippers are set to kick off in Los Angeles on Sunday at the unusual start time of 6:30 pm ET, with the game being televised by NBC.
