Boston Celtics (36-19) at Los Angeles Lakers (34-21)
Sunday, February 22, 2026
6:30 PM ET
TV: NBC/Peacock, NBCSB, Telemundo
Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, ESPN LA 710, Sirius XM
Regular Season Game #56 Road Game #29
Crypto.com Arena
The Celtics go to the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2nd and last assembly this season. The Celtics win the primary assembly in Boston 125-105 on December 5. The Celtics have been at full power for that recreation whereas the Lakers have been with out LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Marcus Smart. These two groups tied the collection final season with every staff profitable on their dwelling courtroom. The Celtics are 168-135 general, all time, in opposition to the Lakers. They are 55-78 in video games performed at the Lakers.
The Lakers principally saved their core collectively for this season. They did make a few modifications nevertheless. They introduced in DeAndre Ayton to shore up their middle spot. They additionally signed Marcus Smart to assist their protection. They signed Jake LaRavia as a free agent additionally. At the commerce deadline, the Lakers traded Gabe Vincent to Atlanta for Luke Kennard to provide them a sharpshooter off the bench.
The Celtics are 2nd within the East, 5.5 video games behind 1st place Detroit. They are 1 recreation forward of third place Cleveland, 1.5 video games forward of 4th place New York, 3 video games forward of fifth place Toronto, 6 video games forward of sixth place Philadelphia and 6.5 video games forward of seventh place Orlando. The Celtics are 12-6 in opposition to Western Conference opponents. They are 18-10 on the street and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They have gained their final 2 video games.
The Lakers are fifth within the West, 8 video games behind first place OKC, 5 video games behind 2nd place San Antonio, 1 recreation behind third place Denver, half a recreation behind 4th place Houston and tied with sixth place Minnesota. They are 2.5 recreation forward of seventh place Phoenix. They are 11-7 in opposition to Eastern Conference opponents and 16-10 at dwelling. They are 6-4 of their final 10 video games. They have gained their final 2 video games.
The Celtics are taking part in within the 2nd recreation of a 4 recreation Western street journey. They beat Golden State 121-110 on Thursday and can play Phoenix, and Denver again to again on Tuesday and Wednesday to shut out the journey. They will then return dwelling for video games in opposition to Brooklyn and Philadelphia earlier than a recreation at Milwaukee. Then they’re again dwelling for video games in opposition to Charlotte and Dallas earlier than a tricky 3 recreation street journey by Cleveland, San Antonio, and Oklahoma City. Then they host Washington, Phoenix and Golden State.
The Lakers are taking part in within the seventh recreation of an 8 recreation dwelling stand. They are 4-2 to date on the house stand and can shut it out with a recreation in opposition to Orlando. They will then play at Phoenix and Golden State earlier than returning dwelling to play Sacramento and New Orleans. Then it’s one recreation at Denver earlier than a 5 recreation dwelling stand the place they may host Indiana, New York, Minnesota, Chicago and Denver.
Both groups are wholesome aside from Jayson Tatum for the Celtics, who stays out as he rehabs from the torn Achilles. The Lakers have nobody on their damage report. I’m assuming that the Celtics will as soon as once more begin White, Scheierman, Brown, Hauser and Queta. I’m pondering that the Lakers will follow the starters they used on Friday of their win over the Clippers, which is Doncic, Reaves, LeBron, Smart and Jordan. Although they solely used this beginning lineup as soon as attributable to accidents, they think about it their strongest beginning lineup.
Probable Starting Matchups
PG: Derrick White vs Luka Doncic
SG: Baylor Scheierman vs Austin Reaves
SF: Jaylen Brown vs LeBron James
PF: Sam Hauser vs Marcus Smart
C: Neemias Queta vs Deandre Ayton
Celtics Reserves
Payton Pritchard
Hugo Gonzalez
Luka Garza
Amare Williams
Nikola Vucevic
Jordan Walsh
Delano Banton (10-day)
John Tonje (10-day)
2-Way Players
Ron Harper, Jr
Max Shulga
Injuries/Out
Jayson Tatum (Achilles) out
Lakers Reserves
Kobe Bufkin
Rui Hachimura
Jaxson Hayes
Bronny James
Luke Kennard
Maxi Kleber
Dalton Knecht
Jake LaRavia
Adou Thiero
Jarred Vanderbilt
2-Way Players
Chris Manon
Nick Smith, Jr
Drew Timme
Injuries/Out
None listed
Head Coach
JJ Redick
Key Matchups
Derrick White vs Luka Doncic
Doncic is averaging 33.0 factors, 7.8 rebounds, and eight.6 assists per recreation whereas taking pictures 47.3% from the fiield He is coming off a recreation the place he completed with 38 factors, 6 rebounds, 11 assists and 1 block. He missed the December recreation in opposition to the Celtics. The Celtics must sluggish Doncic down and guard him each on the perimeter and within the paint together with anticipating his passes.
Baylor Scheierman vs Austin Reaves
Reaves is averaging 25.6 factors, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per recreation. He is taking pictures 51.1% from the sphere and 37.4% from past the arc. In the December assembly between these two groups, Reeves completed with 36 factors, 3 rebound, and eight assists whereas taking pictures 50% from the sphere and 37.5% from past the arc. He is coming off a recreation the place he completed with 29 factors, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and a pair of steals.
Honorable Mention
Jaylen Brown vs LeBron James
LeBron is averaging 21.7 factors, 5.7 rebounds, and seven.2 assists whereas taking pictures 49.9% from the sphere and 30.6% from past the arc. In his final recreation on Friday, he completed with 13 factors, 3 rebounds, 11 assists and 1 steal. He didn’t play within the first recreation between these two groups. He could also be previous, however he’s nonetheless harmful and an excellent passer.
Keys to the Game
Defense – I can’t say it sufficient that protection is an important key to profitable. The Celtics are eighth within the league with a defensive ranking of 112.6. The Lakers are twenty fourth with a defensive ranking of 116.5. The Celtics have performed good protection for essentially the most half in current video games however they nonetheless are usually not constant on that finish for 48 minutes every recreation They should keep dedicated to taking part in robust, lock down protection, particularly in opposition to a Lakers staff with some excellent offensive weapons. The Celtics should particularly defend within the paint because the Lakers are ninth within the league with 51.9 factors within the paint per recreation.
Rebound – Rebounding takes effort and vitality and the Celtics will want each to out-rebound the Lakers. The Celtics must crash the boards and preserve the Lakers from getting second probability factors and quick breaks. The Celtics are averaging 45.6 rebounds per recreation (eighth) whereas the Lakers are averaging 40.9 rebounds per recreation (twenty fourth). The Celtics should put out further vitality and energy to beat the Lakers to rebounds.
Move the Ball Carefully – The Celtics want to maneuver the ball to be able to discover one of the best shot on every possession. When the ball sticks and gamers attempt to do an excessive amount of, the Celtics battle. They are at their finest after they move the ball and preserve it shifting. The Celtics had 31 assists of their win over the Warriors. The Celtics are 28-4 after they have at least 25 assists. But they must make cautious passes and never get sloppy as a result of the Lakers common 17.8 factors off turnovers.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics should be the extra aggressive staff. They must be aggressive in going to the basket, in diving for unfastened balls, and on protection. They must aggressively crash the boards. They must be the staff that performs tougher and that desires it extra. In most of their losses, they’ve allowed their opponents to play tougher and be extra aggressive. They completely can’t let the Lakers play tougher than them in the event that they wish to have an opportunity to win.
X-Factors
On the Road – The Celtics are taking part in within the second recreation of a 4 recreation street journey. They must struggle by the distractions of taking part in on the street and on the opposite coast in a special time zone and preserve their concentrate on taking part in the precise approach. They must put all these distractions of taking part in in an odd area and in entrance of hostile followers and staying in motels and away from household apart and put all their concentrate on taking part in the sport.
Pride – “Beat LA” is likely one of the most iconic chants in sports activities. This is a storied rivalry and irrespective of the circumstances, the Celtics at all times wish to beat the Lakers and vice versa. The Celtics must concentrate on the sport and on taking part in aggressive basketball. It’s a matter of pleasure and the Celtics must get the job carried out and “Beat LA”. On the opposite hand, LeBron at all times has a chip on his shoulder in opposition to the Celtics and LeBron and his teammates are going to provide further effort to beat one in every of their greatest rivals.
Officiating – The officiating can at all times be an x-factor. Every crew calls the sport in a different way and the Celtics must adapt to how the sport is being known as and never enable dangerous calls and no calls to remove their focus. If you doubt that officiating is an x-factor, simply suppose again to the final Finals between these two groups. In recreation 7, the Celtics have been up 6 going into the 4th quarter. The refs had known as the sport evenly up till then. But within the 4th quarter, the referees took over and it value the Celtics that recreation. The Lakers took 21 free throws within the 4th quarter alone whereas the Celtics took 6. The Lakers took extra free throws within the 4th quarter than they did within the first 3 quarters mixed. (Yes, I’m nonetheless somewhat bitter over that.) Hopefully the refs name it truthful on this recreation and let each groups play.
