The storied NBA rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics reignites on Friday night, as two of the league’s most iconic franchises clash at the TD Garden. With the Lakers riding high in the Western Conference standings and the Celtics finding their groove amid significant roster upheaval, this matchup promises high drama, star power, and potential playoff implications early in the 2025-26 season. The Lakers, bolstered by Luka Dončić’s MVP-caliber play, aim to extend their dominance, while the Celtics lean on Jaylen Brown’s scoring explosion to prove they’re still contenders without Jayson Tatum. Expect a battle of contrasting styles: the Lakers’ high-octane offense against Boston’s gritty, three-point-heavy attack.
Venue and Game Details
Location: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts (home of the Boston Celtics; capacity: 19,156). The iconic arena, known for its electric atmosphere and parquet floor, has hosted countless classic moments in this rivalry, including the Celtics’ 1984 Finals Game 7 victory over the Lakers.
Tipoff: 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT)
Broadcast: Amazon Prime Video (national stream), SportsNet LA (Lakers local), NBC Sports Boston (Celtics local). NBA League Pass available for out-of-market viewers.
This is the first meeting of the season between the two teams, with a rematch scheduled later in Los Angeles. Tip-off follows a quick turnaround for both sides, as the Lakers come off a Thursday win in Toronto and the Celtics a Thursday rout of Washington.
Team Records
| Team | Overall Record | Home/Away Split | Conference Standing | Recent Streak |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 16-5 (.762) | 8-2 home / 8-3 away | 2nd in Western Conference (2.0 GB behind OKC) | W1 (after snapping a 7-game win streak with a loss to Phoenix) |
| Boston Celtics | 13-9 (.591) | 7-4 home / 6-5 away | 6th in Eastern Conference (4.5 GB behind CLE) | W3 (7-2 in last 9, including wins over Knicks and Cavaliers) |
The Lakers boast the league’s second-best record, fueled by an elite offense (119.9 PPG, 7th in NBA). The Celtics sit mid-pack in the East but have climbed with a balanced attack (115.3 PPG, 15th) and top-tier defense (111.2 PPG allowed, 3rd).
Recent Team Forms
The Lakers enter on a rollercoaster but remain one of the West’s elite. They’ve won 8 of their last 10, showcasing explosive scoring led by Dončić’s near-triple-doubles. However, a lackluster 125-108 loss to Phoenix on December 1 exposed defensive lapses (allowing 51.2% FG shooting). Their latest: a gritty 123-120 buzzer-beater win over Toronto on December 4, where Austin Reaves erupted for 44 points.
Over the last 5 games (4-1): W 133-121 vs. NOP, W 129-119 vs. DAL, W 135-118 vs. LAC, L 108-125 vs. PHX, W 123-120 vs. TOR. Average: 125.6 PPG scored, 120.6 allowed (+5.0 margin).
The Celtics have surged, winning 7 of their last 9 to climb from early-season doldrums. Jaylen Brown’s emergence as a 29.0 PPG scorer has masked Tatum’s absence, with back-to-back 40-point outings in wins over New York (123-117 on Dec. 2) and Cleveland (117-115 on Nov. 30). Their latest: a dominant 146-101 blowout of Washington on December 4, where Derrick White dropped 30.
Over the last 5 games (4-1): W 123-117 vs. NYK, W 117-115 at CLE, L 115-119 at MIN, W 117-114 vs. DET, W 138-129 vs. ORL. Average: 122.0 PPG scored, 118.8 allowed (+3.2 margin). Boston’s home defense has been stout (113.5 PPG allowed at TD Garden), but they’ve struggled with turnovers (14.1 per game).
Injury Report
Both teams are banged up on the second night of back-to-backs, with official reports dropping closer to tip-off. Key absences could tilt this toward a shootout.
| Team | Player | Status | Injury/Details | Impact |
| Lakers | Luka Dončić (G) | Out | Personal reasons (birth of second child; no timeline, likely misses this game) | Massive loss; leads NBA in scoring (35.3 PPG), adds 8.9 RPG/8.9 APG. Reaves steps up as primary creator. |
| Lakers | Marcus Smart (G) | Questionable/Day-to-Day | Lower back injury management (missed Thursday’s game) | Defensive anchor (1.8 SPG); if out, exposes backcourt vulnerabilities. |
| Lakers | LeBron James (F) | Probable | Minor foot concern (nervous worry per reports; limited practice) | Veteran leader (28.9 PPG); low-effort games (e.g., 10 PTS vs. PHX) could hurt if not at 100%. |
| Celtics | Jayson Tatum (F) | Out | Achilles surgery recovery (torn in 2025 playoffs; season-long absence) | Franchise cornerstone; Brown absorbs load, but spacing suffers (Celtics 3PT% drops to 35.8% without him). |
| Celtics | Jaylen Brown (G/F) | Questionable | Ankle (rolled in Thursday’s win; day-to-day) | Leading scorer (29.0 PPG, 5th in NBA); two straight 42-PT games. If limited, White/Pritchard must carry. |
No other major concerns, but fatigue from back-to-backs could lead to foul trouble for Boston’s Neemias Queta (8.2 RPG) or LA’s Deandre Ayton (8.6 RPG).
Key Player Matchups
This game’s stars could decide it in crunch time. The Lakers’ perimeter firepower tests Boston’s revamped backcourt defense, while the paint battle favors LA without Tatum.
Austin Reaves (LAL) vs. Derrick White (BOS): Reaves (15.8 PPG, exploding to 32.4 over last 5) faces White (17.0 PPG, 2.9 3PM/game, 17th in NBA). White’s length disrupts drivers, but Reaves’ off-ball movement (0.9 3PM/game) could exploit rotations. Edge: Reaves if Dončić sits.
Jaylen Brown (BOS) vs. Rui Hachimura (LAL): Brown’s isolation dominance (29.0 PPG, 46.6% FG) meets Hachimura’s versatile D (0.6 SPG, 0.2 BPG). Hachimura’s length helped limit Brown to 22 PTS in March’s last meeting. Edge: Brown at home.
LeBron James (LAL) vs. Payton Pritchard (BOS): LeBron’s playmaking (6.8 APG) vs. Pritchard’s hot hand (17.3 PPG, 3.7 3PM/game over last 5). Boston’s small-ball forces LeBron into post-ups. Edge: LeBron’s experience.
Deandre Ayton (LAL) vs. Neemias Queta (BOS): Ayton’s rebounding edge (8.6 RPG) vs. Queta’s rim protection (1.4 BPG). Without Tatum, Queta logs heavy minutes. Edge: Ayton in paint scoring.
Bench: Gabe Vincent (LAL) vs. Sam Hauser (BOS): Vincent’s starts (7.8 APG) vs. Hauser’s shooting (8.2 PPG off bench). Depth could swing a close fourth.
Watch for Boston’s three-point volume (15.6 makes/game) vs. LA’s paint efficiency (51.2% FG, 6th in NBA).
Series History
The Lakers-Celtics rivalry is NBA lore, with 12 Finals meetings (most ever) and 376 total games. Boston holds the edge all-time but has faltered recently.
All-Time Regular Season: Celtics lead 167-135 (55.3%). Last 10 RS meetings: BOS 6-4.
All-Time Playoffs: Celtics lead 9-3 in series (e.g., 1960s dominance with Bill Russell; 1980s with Larry Bird). Lakers’ last win: 2010 Finals (4-3).
Overall: Celtics 210-166 (55.9%).
Recent: Celtics won last meeting 111-101 (March 8, 2025, at BOS). Lakers won prior (117-96, Jan. 23, 2025). In last 5: BOS 3-2, averaging 110.6-105.4 scores (unders hit 80%).
This series often delivers: 52% of games go over totals, with home teams winning 60% ATS.
Betting Trends
Spread: Lakers 13-8 ATS overall (8-3 road). BOS 4-2 ATS as 7+ favorites. Trend: Road underdogs cover 4/5 last in this series.
Moneyline: BOS 8-4 as ML favorites; LA 7-3 as dogs.
Total: 6/10 last meetings over; Lakers 10/10 home overs, but BOS 5/6 home unders. Last 5 combined: 60% over.
Predicted Score” Boston Celtics 115, Los Angeles Lakers 110
Game Odds
Los Angeles Lakers 223.5
Boston Celtics – 6.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, December 4, 2025
