Kobe Bryant had 15 points, 11 rebounds, and the game-sealing triple with 1:40 left in his final game in Boston as the LA Lakers snapped the Celtics' four-game winning streak, 112-104 in the NBA.
Bryant already announced his plans to retire after this season - his 20th - all with the Lakers.
Jordan Clarkson scored 24 points, Lou Williams had 19 and fellow-reserve Julius Randle added 15 with 12 rebounds for the lowly Lakers (6-27) who ended their four-game slide.
The struggling Lakers built a 14-point third quarter cushion but couldn't sustain. Instead, the Celtics charged to within 104-102 on an Avery Bradley layup with 1:58 left.
Bryant, who it just 5-of-18 field goals, then stepped up and buried his straight-away triple for a five-point lead that effectively sealed the victory.
Isaiah Thomas led Boston (18-14) with 24 points while reserve Evan
Turner added 20 with eight assists.
Elsewhere: Dallas Mavericks 114, Golden State Warriors 91: The mighty Warriors didn't have league top scorer Stephen Curry and looked off their game in his absence.
J.J. Barea scored 23 points, Zaza Pachulia had 14 with 16 rebounds and the host Mavs (19-13) sent the league-best Warriors (29-12) to their second loss of the season, as Curry sat out because of a lower left leg bruise.
- LA Clippers J.J. Redick fired in 26 points, Austin Rivers added a season-best 22 and the visiting Clippers (20-13) - minus their top scorer Blake Griffin because of a torn left quadriceps muscle - held off the Hornets for their fourth consecutive victory.
Kemba Walker scored 29 points for the Hornets (17-14), who will be without centre Al Jefferson for at least six weeks following arthroscopic right knee surgery.
- Chicago Bulls 102, Indiana Pacers 100 (OT) Jimmy Butler tipped in Pau Gasol's lob pass with 1.2 seconds left in overtime and deflected one intended for Paul George on the final play of the game, lifting the Bulls (18-12) over the visiting Pacers (18-13).
- Minnesota Timberwolves 94, Utah Jazz 80: Karl-Anthony Towns had 25 points with 10 rebounds, Spaniard Ricky Rubio dished out a career-high-tying 17 assists, leading the T-Wolves (12-20) over the visiting Jazz (13-17).
- San Antonio Spurs 112, Phoenix Suns 79: LaMarcus Aldridge had 21 points with 12 rebounds, and the Spurs (28-6) ran their franchise-home record streak to 28, including 19-0 to start the season after sending the Suns (12-21) to their sixth straight loss.
- Philadelphia 76ers 110, Sacramento Kings 105: Nerlens Noel scored a season-high 20 points, recently-acquired Ish Smith added five of his 18 down the stretch, and the league-worst Sixers (3-31) improved to 2-19 on the road after trimming the Kings (12-20).
In other games: the Orlando Magic rallied past the visiting Brooklyn Nets 100-93; the Toronto Raptors held off the visiting Washington Wizards 94-91; and the Portland Trail Blazers bounced the visiting Denver Nuggets 110-103.
