The Los Angeles Lakers' Christmas Day game against the Boston Celtics turned sour, not only because the Lakers lost 126-115, but also because of a controversial call and an injury to LeBron James.

A foul was blown and not blown:

Late in the second quarter, Jayson Tatum's fast break was blocked by LeBron James, but referee Scott Foster blew a foul on James. The Lakers challenged the call, and Foster surprisingly changed the call to a defensive foul on Tulane Prince, saying that Prince made contact with Tatum's arm.

James, in his 21st season, expressed his displeasure with the call". He said, "I'm kind of hesitant about the rule,....... If you call a foul on me, then you shouldn't go back and say it was a foul on somebody else. He believes that once the call is made, it should stand.

Fans echoed James' sentiments, questioning whether Prince had made contact. The controversy overshadowed James' stellar performance (16 points, nine rebounds and eight assists) and Anthony Davis' outstanding play (40 points and 13 rebounds).

Collision with Brown

A collision between James and Jaylen Brown midway through the second quarter added to the Lakers' woes. James moved too far in his defense of Brown and tripped him, causing both players to fall. James lay on the ground clutching his left ankle while Brown clutched his lower back.

Fortunately, both players recovered and continued to play, but the incident raised concerns about James' health, especially with the Lakers facing a heavy schedule.

Summarizing.

A questionable call, an evenly matched loss, and an injury to a superstar dashed the Lakers' Christmas game hopes. While the revised call was questionable, it certainly left a bitter taste in the mouth of the Lakers and their fans, casting a shadow over their holiday cheer.