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.

Did the Lakers’ 117-96 victory on Thursday night provide an impetus lasting beyond one game, or was it an outlier against a team coming off an overtime game the night before?