On February 22, 2026, the Boston Celtics will travel to Crypto.com Arena to take on the Los Angeles Lakers in a game that serves as the centerpiece for the NBA’s revived “Sunday Night Basketball” franchise.
As both teams navigate the final stretch of the 2025-2026 regular season with high stakes, the implications for playoff seeding and individual awards races have reached a fever pitch. The Celtics (36-19) enter the night looking to close the gap on the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons, while the Lakers (34-21) look to secure home field advantage in a crowded Western Conference hierarchy dominated by the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.
Jaylen Brown has emerged as a legitimate candidate for Most Valuable Player in Tatum’s absence, demonstrating his ability to post the league’s second-highest usage rate (36.5%) without a significant dip in efficiency. Brown is currently fourth in the NBA in scoring, averaging 29.2 points per game on 48.4% shooting. His growth as a key playmaker has been a revelation; Brown is currently averaging a career-high 4.8 assists per game, a metric that highlights his evolving chemistry with the team’s secondary scorers.
Celtics management, led by Brad Stevens, significantly strengthened this supporting cast at the trade deadline by acquiring veteran center Nikola Vucevic from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Anfernee Simons. The addition of Vucevic provides the Celtics with a refined interior scoring threat and an elite defensive rebounder, addressing a major concern regarding the depth of their frontcourt following the departures of Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis.
At 34-21, the Lakers are fifth in a Western Conference increasingly characterized by offensive explosions. The Lakers currently lead the NBA in field goal percentage at 50.0%, a testament to Doncic and James’ shot-creation ability, but they struggle with defensive consistency and rank 23rd in defensive rating (117.6).
Luka Doncic is having a historic individual season, leading the NBA in scoring (33.0 PPG) while among the leaders in assists (8.6 APG) and triple-doubles. However, head coach JJ Redick has increasingly emphasized the need for a more balanced attacking approach. Recent adjustments have seen LeBron James, now 41 years old, take a more active role in setting the pace and dictating offensive sets, allowing Doncic to utilize catch-and-shoot opportunities and reduce his overall physical load. Despite his age, James remains a statistical anomaly, averaging 21.7 points and 7.2 assists per game, although he has publicly noted that the team’s floor can occasionally look “disgusting” when their defensive rotations fail.
How to Watch Boston Celtics @ Los Angeles Lakers Online – National & Local US TV Channels & Live Streams
The broadcast will begin with “Basketball Night in America,” a live on-site pregame show beginning at 6:00 PM ET, hosted by Ahmed Fareed with analysis from Naismith Basketball Hall of Famers, including Carmelo Anthony. The game itself starts at 6:30 PM ET (3:30 PM PT). For the first time in more than two decades, the iconic theme song “Roundball Rock” will precede the opening jump ball, marking the return of Mike Tirico as the lead play-by-play voice. Tirico is joined in the booth by analysts Reggie Miller and Jamal Crawford, while Zora Stephenson provides updates from the sidelines.
Digital accessibility is a cornerstone of this season’s broadcast strategy. Peacock serves as the exclusive streaming home for those without traditional cable, which requires a Premium or Premium Plus subscription. For consumers who use multi-channel video programming distributors (MVPDs), the game can be accessed through providers like YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV, which offer local NBC affiliates. Additionally, the game will be available on Spanish-language television via Telemundo, ensuring a broad demographic reach in the United States.
How to watch Boston Celtics @ Los Angeles Lakers internationally
If you’re outside the US, the NBA game between Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers should be available to livestream with a NBA League Pass.
Please note that livestream rights vary by country and are subject to local broadcast agreements. NBA games that are not shown live on NBA League Pass are usually made available on demand later.
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If you’re abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) to watch games via your usual streaming service. A VPN, like ExpressVPNyou can establish a secure online connection while streaming.
Likely starting lineups
For the Boston Celtics, the starting backcourt is expected to consist of Derrick White and Baylor Scheierman. White’s role has become increasingly important as a secondary playmaker and primary perimeter defender, while Scheierman has earned the coaching staff’s trust through his possession battle ability and defensive versatility. Jaylen Brown will start at small forward, where he will be tasked with both leading the offensive attack and defending the Lakers’ elite wings. Sam Hauser will likely round out the forward positions at power forward, providing the elite spacing needed for Brown’s drive to the basket. Neemias Queta will start at center and will serve as the team’s primary rim protector and interior presence against the size of the Lakers’ frontcourt. Off the bench, the Celtics will lean heavily on Payton Pritchard, whose 26-point performance in the previous game against Golden State underlines his potential as a game-changer. The acquisition of Nikola Vucevic adds a new dimension to the Celtics’ second unit and provides an experienced scoring presence that can take advantage of mismatches.
The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to field a star-heavy starting unit that will prioritize shot creation and defensive communication. Luka Doncic will start at point guard and will serve as the main engine for the league’s most efficient offense. Austin Reaves will join him in the backcourt as shooting guard, continuing his role as leading scorer and secondary facilitator. Marcus Smart is expected to start at small forward, a tactical decision by Redick to put an elite perimeter defender directly on Jaylen Brown. LeBron James will fill the power forward position, where his basketball IQ and playmaking ability will be essential in navigating Boston’s advanced defensive rotations. Deandre Ayton will start at center and provide the necessary rebounding to prevent Boston from gaining additional possessions through offensive boards. The Lakers’ bench depth is determined by Luke Kennard and Jake LaRavia, both of whom provide vital perimeter shooting to maintain offensive spacing when the starters rest. Coach Redick has expressed confidence in this particular starting five, noting that it offers the ideal mix of perimeter shooting, star power and defensive communication needed to compete with elite Eastern Conference units like the Celtics.
History of the Head-to-Head Series
Boston maintains the historic advantage with a 211-166 all-time record, including a 168-135 edge in regular season games. This rivalry was the defining feature of the NBA Finals, where the two teams met twelve times, with Boston winning nine of those series. In the contemporary era, the competition remains just as fierce, although the Celtics have had the upper hand in recent years.
Boston has won seven of its last 10 games against Los Angeles, including a convincing 126-105 victory earlier this season on December 5, 2025. In that game, Jaylen Brown dominated the perimeter with 30 points, while Sam Hauser contributed four crucial 3-pointers off the bench. It’s important to note that the Lakers were severely shortchanged in that December meeting, as both Luka Doncic and LeBron James were unavailable due to personal reasons and rest, respectively.
As a result, the Feb. 22 game marks the first time in the 2025-2026 season that both teams are expected to play their full superstar rotation against each other.
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