The Boston Celtics face the Los Angeles Lakers Sunday night on NBC as part of the NBA’s Sunday Night Basketball series, marking the latest chapter in a rivalry that dates back to 1948. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET.
This contest represents the second meeting between the two storied franchises this season. On December 5, 2025, the Celtics defeated the Lakers 126-105 in Boston, a game in which the Lakers were without LeBron James and Luka Dončić. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 30 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, even as Austin Reaves paced the Lakers with 36 points.
The December matchup saw the Celtics hit a season-high 24 three-pointers and record 31 assists. Bronny James also made his TD Garden debut, scoring five points in limited minutes. The Celtics have won the last two games against the Lakers, and lead the all-time series 211-166, according to historical data.
Sunday’s game will be broadcast on NBC and streamed on Peacock. The Celtics are coming off the NBA All-Star break, while the Lakers are looking to improve their standing in the Western Conference. As of February 22, 2026, the Lakers hold a 34-21 record, and the Celtics are 14-9.
The Celtics-Lakers rivalry is widely considered the greatest in NBA history, having featured 12 NBA Finals matchups. The Celtics have won eight of those Finals series, while the Lakers have won four. The two teams last met in the NBA Finals in 2010, with the Lakers emerging victorious.
The Lakers are scheduled to play at Philadelphia on February 23, while the Celtics will travel to Toronto following Sunday’s game.
