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NBA: Los Angeles Lakers vs Boston Celtics Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction

**Date: **Sunday, Feb 22nd, 2026 Tip-Off Time: 06:30 p.m. ET Venue: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California TV: NBC, Peacock, Telemundo, or TSN Streaming: Stream with NBA League Pass Records: Los Angeles Lakers (33-21), Boston Celtics (35-19) Referee: N/A Last Meeting: Boston Celtics 126-105 Los Angeles Lakers (Dec, 5th 2025 | NBA) The NBA serves us a marquee cross-conference matchup between the oldest and most intense rivals in history, as well as the teams with the most NBA Championships, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics, at Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California, on Sunday, 22nd February 2026. The Lakers are fifth in the Western Conference standings, while the Celtics are second in the Eastern Conference. We suggest enriching bets on this NBA game for your consideration.

Ian Wanyeki
Ian Wanyeki
Sports Betting Writer
Chad Nagel
Sports Betting & Casino Editor

5 minread

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Luka Doncic #77 looks to pass past Klay Thompson #31 / Getty Images

Luka Doncic #77 looks to pass past Klay Thompson #31 / Getty Images

Head-to-Head Record

Last five meetings (NBA)

  1. 05/12/2025 Boston Celtics 126-105 Los Angeles Lakers at TD Garden

  2. 08/03/2025 Boston Celtics 111-101 Los Angeles Lakers at TD Garden

  3. 23/01/2025 Los Angeles Lakers 117-96 Boston Celtics at Crypto.com Arena

  4. 01/02/2024 Boston Celtics 105-114 Los Angeles Lakers at TD Garden

  5. 25/12/2023 Los Angeles Lakers 115-126 Boston Celtics at Crypto.com Arena

Los Angeles Lakers: Current Form – WLLWW (Last five results)

The Lakers’ offense is one of the best in the NBA, although the team has recently struggled with consistency in production.  The team excels at shooting overall, ranking 1st in FG%, with inside scoring a key strength. However, their inconsistent 3-Point Shooting is an Achilles heel.

On the other hand, the Celtics' defense is high-level and has focused on dictating high-quality shots for opponents, placing high in “points per shot” allowed. The team has had to adjust to navigating without Jayson Tatum for significant periods, with others filling in the defensive gaps.

This promises to be a competitive contest between one of the best offenses and a highly efficient defense. 

Key Players to Watch

  • Luka Doncic (Point Guard)
    Luka Doncic is on an offensive tear this year. The MVP candidate leads the NBA in scoring with an average of 32.8 points per game while also leading his team in assists and steals with 8.6 and 1.5, respectively.
  • LeBron James (Small Forward)
    LeBron James is a living legend of the game. The King continues to amaze with his consistency and longevity deep in his 23rd season. He is the team’s third leading scorer with 21.8 points per game.
  • DeAndre Ayton (Center)
    DeAndre Ayton is the team’s defensive anchor and X-factor. It’s simple: if he is dominant on both ends, the Lakers are a hard team to beat. He leads the team in blocks and rebounds with one and 8.5, respectively, while averaging 13.2 points per game.

Los Angeles Lakers Injury Report

The Lakers have a clean bill of health.

Boston Celtics: Current Form – WLWWW (Last five results)

In their last five games, the Celtics have won four times against the Bulls (124-105), the Heat (98-96), the Rockets (114-93), and the Mavericks (110-100), while they have lost against the Knicks (111-89).
The Celtics’ offense is surprisingly the second-best in the league with an offensive rating of 120.2, despite facing significant injury adversity, most notably the absence of superstar Jayson Tatum. The offense is characterized by high-volume 3-point shooting, elite ball security, and standout performances from key players stepping into larger roles.

On the other hand, their defense is the ninth-best in the NBA with a defensive rating of 112.6. They generally rank among the top 15 teams in the league across various defensive metrics despite facing challenges with lineup consistency, with a key concern being their rim protection.

Boston Celtics Offense vs. Los Angeles Lakers Defense

The Celtics’ offense has successfully adapted to a “next-man-up” approach, maintaining a top-tier offensive rating, demonstrating their ability to navigate the absence of Jason Tatum. They have relied on strong team-wide 3-point shooting (54% in some matchups), elite efficiency, ball security, and clutch performance.

The Lakers’ defense, on the other hand, has struggled, ranking in the bottom tier of the league in several key categories. Despite flashes of competence when committed, the team has shown inconsistent effort.

The Celtics’ offense is by far superior to the Lakers’ defense, and for the Lakers to claim victory, they will have to rely on their offense and outscore the visitors.

Key Players to Watch

  • Jaylen Brown (Small Forward)
    Jaylen Brown has taken over as the primary offensive hub and is performing at an elite, career-best scoring level, being among the top six in the NBA with an average of 29.3 points per game.
  • Derrick White (Shooting Guard)
    Derrick White is operating as a high-level secondary scorer and playmaker while also anchoring the perimeter defense. White is leading the team in assists, steals, and blocks with 5.6, 1.2, and 1.4, respectively, while averaging 17.2 points per game.
  • Payton Pritchard (Point Guard)
    Payton Pritchard is having a breakout season after the team’s offseason changes. Pritchard has stepped up significantly, averaging career-highs in points (17.2) and assists (5.3).

Boston Celtics Injury Report

Jayson Tatum (Achilles)

Although Tatum’s injury is significant, the team has shown that it is capable of maneuvering while maintaining high production on both ends of the floor.

Predicted Line-Ups

  1. Los Angeles Lakers

    Point Guard: Luka Doncic
    Shooting Guard: Austin Reaves 
    Small Forward: Marcus Smart
    Power Forward: LeBron James
    Center: DeAndre Ayton

  2. Boston Celtics

    Point Guard: Derrick White
    Shooting Guard: Baylor Scheierman
    Small Forward: Jaylen Brown
    Power Forward: Sam Hauser
    Center: Neemias Queta

Suggested Main Bets

  1. Lakers to Win – The rivalry between the Lakers and the Celtics is independent of both teams’ forms, with bragging rights playing a major role. Therefore, the Lakers will be looking to win this home game. 

  2. Total Points: Over 220.5 – Both teams have high-caliber offenses; hence, this is expected to be a high-scoring affair.  

  3. The Lakers to Cover a -6.5 Point Spread: The Lakers will not just be looking to win this game; they will also put up a dominant performance point-wise. 

Prop Bets & Same-Game Parlay Ideas

  1. Luka Doncic: Over 30.5 Points – Luka is the leading scorer in the NBA and has shown high-level offensive capability throughout the season.

  2. Jaylen Brown: Over 23.5 points – Brown is the best two-way perimeter player in the NBA. His production has significantly improved this season after becoming the primary playmaker for the Celtics, following Tatum’s absence.

  3. LeBron James: Over 5 Assists: LeBron always shows up against the Celtics. There are very few games remaining against this historic opponent, and he will definitely show up. 

Prediction: Lakers to Win 

Whenever these two sides meet at the Crypto.com Arena, the Lakers are rarely given an easy ride and are often pushed to uphold their dominance on home court. They tend to make sure anyone wearing the green and gold feels the intensity of the occasion. On paper, the Lakers also boast greater star power, particularly with the Celtics set to be without Jayson Tatum. 

Ian Wanyeki
Ian WanyekiSports Betting Writer

Ian Wanyeki is a Nairobi-based sports journalist with a strong passion for sport and an impressive grasp of multiple disciplines. A Bachelor of Science graduate from Kenyatta University, he has worked as a sports analyst at Covenant Television Network, a sports reporter at NTV, and a correspondent and contributor for Quartz Africa.

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